PLANS to axe a direct Blackpool to London train service should be de-railed, say resort transport chiefs.

First North Western has announced the withdrawal of its daily direct Blackpool-Euston service from May, though the resort will still have Virgin's daily service, which has proved very popular.

A First North Western spokesman said: "The fact is that very few people have been using our service, it's just not viable."

But Blackpool Council and the Blackpool and Fylde Rail Users Association, who fought long and hard for the restoration of direct services which started last May, are both appealing for a change of heart.

Blackpool transport chairman Roy Fisher blamed the train's timing and slowness for its lack of popularity: "We're saying that 6.27am is probably too early for the leisure traveller and it gets into London too late - about 10.30am - for the business traveller. The return train does not get in till 11.45pm and the fact is that you could get a service ten minutes later, changing at Preston, which arrives half-an-hour earlier, so you can't blame people for not using it.

"We're seeking an early meeting to ask First North Western to experiment with the time of departure but I understand there may be problems with timing on the West Coast Main Line.

"If they would just persevere we think it would justify the service, we think there's a demand for it but not as it's run at the moment because there are better alternatives."

Paul Nettleton, chairman of Blackpool and Fylde Rail Users Association said: "We're very disappointed - they've only given it 12 months and it's not long enough to get the service established.

"We feel that a prestigeous service like this needs more time and effort on promotion. We understand they have financial and practical problems, but we do think they've been a bit hasty. It's a Catch 22 situation - if you don't spend money to let people know about your service then you can't expect them to use it."

FNW press officer Keith Lumley acknowledged the timing was difficult, but it had to be co-ordinated with another existing service linking up at Warrington, he said.

"We thought we would try the Blackpool link to see if there was a market there, but quite understandably, given the departure and arrival times, it hasn't taken off."

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