LABOUR MP Greg Pope has told MPs about East Lancashire's transport choice - delayed trains or crowded motorways.

He attacked Transport Secretary Sir George Young during Transport Questions over his claims that the transport network in general and the link to the North West had "improved significantly as a result of public and private investment over the past 17 years."

Hyndburn MP Mr Pope told him: "That is the answer of someone who does not travel regularly between London and the north west of England.

"Both road and Rail links between London and the North West are inadequate."

Mr Pope said when he came down to the Commons last week his train was well over an hour late, causing him to miss a key meeting.

This week he chose to drive and it was a five-hour nightmare involving a lengthy crawl through Birmingham on the M6.

He asked Sir George for an assurance that the franchise for the Inter City West Coast main line would include a specification to upgrade the line for high speed trains to cut the Manchester to London journey to two hours.

Sir George said Railtrack was investing £1 billion in the modernisation for signalling and control systems, improving the power supply and renewing the track.

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