THE shambles surrounding the Northern Rail services that have been affecting hundreds of passengers across St Helens has been a disgrace.

The geography of the borough between Liverpool and Manchester means many St Helens people are reliant on an efficient and reliable service to get to and from work.

And so the cancellations and delays they have faced over recent weeks is completely unacceptable.

The demands of working life over the past decade has grown enormously – largely down to pressures on budgets in the public and private sector following austerity meaning many are picking up ever-increasing workloads – so the last thing people need is the added stresses and strains of not knowing when they will be able to get to or from their place of work.

As the MP Marie Rimmer points out in the Star’s report (May 31, page 5), the reality is that these delays have cost at least one of her constituents their job.

As readers have told us, it adds pressure to family life too, with mums or dads missing bedtime with their children or important dates at schools.

It is good to see both MPs speaking out and the two regional mayors combining to put pressure on the Department for Transport and the rail operator.

This is when their roles should really come into effect and, alongside MPs, they can ensure a powerful voice of the north is heard in the corridors of power at Westminster.

We are told Northern Rail has promised improvements. These need to happen swiftly and dramatically.

If they don’t, and the miserable experiences continue for Star readers, we would urge passengers to contact us so their stories can be highlighted.

- Meanwhile, the message from the council leader Derek Long that the local authority is looking to draw up a more balanced local plan – with a greater emphasis on the brownfield – is a welcome one.

The previous council cabinet were far too one-eyed when it came to responding to public concerns – and to simply dismiss them as Nimbies was unfair. In a post-industrial town there should be lots of brownfield land that can be put to use. It’s not always as attractive to developers, because of both costs and location, but that should not detract from it being land earmarked for development.