RAIL bosses have said a round of new fare rises scheduled for later this month will not directly affect East Lancashire passengers.

Trains operator Northern Rail has come under fire by unions for announcing some minor increases in Lancashire and Cumbria.

But bosses have confirmed neither the East Lancashire or Clitheroe to Manchester lines, via Blackburn and Darwen, will be affected by the 50p rises by the May 21 changes.

And off-peak tickets at Ramsgreave and Wilpshire, Langho, Whalley and Clitheroe stations, are set to be available from 9am, instead of 9.30am, in line with other Lancashire locations.

Northern is also introducing the opportunity to buy off-peak advance tickets on the day of travel.

Liam Sumpter, the operator’s regional director, said: “The new advance fares are significantly cheaper than walk-up equivalents and also give greater flexibility as customers can save time and skip queues by having an electronic version of the tickets sent direct to their mobile phone.”

The fare rises should only affect services in the Lancaster and Kirkham areas of Lancashire and parts of Cumbria, including Barrow and Kendal.

Mr Sumpter said any income raised as a result of the increased fares would be used to improve services through their 'ongoing modernisation programme'.

He repeated a pledge to phase out ageing Pacer trains by the end of 2019.

Mick Cash, general secretary of rail union RMT, has accused Northern of using fare rises to subsidise its parent company Deustch Bahn.

Mr Cash added: “This latest fares rip-off is just another example of industry costs being shifted to the passenger, whilst the profits made continue to be leaked away from Britain and shipped across the Channel.”