A move to withdraw trains from busy routes in northern England to the south may yet be postponed, MPs have been told.

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman was among several MPs in a lively Commons debate yesterday to speak out against the move by a train leasing company to withdraw nine of First TransPennine Express (FTPE) trains to boost rolling stock numbers of the Chilterns franchise in Oxfordshire.

Mr Sheerman said northern towns and cities needed more trains.

But Transport Minister Stephen Hammond said talks were now under way which would allow FTPE to retain the trains until May next year – allowing more time for a solution to be found.

Mr Hammond said: “Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin saw the lease last month in February,” he said. “Whilst the department is aware of the lease, we cannot unreasonably hold consent for it. And therefore consequently it was given.”

However, he insisted that the Government was confident that by working with the rail operators to resolve the issue, TransPennine passengers would not see a drop in the quality of their service.

He said: “Discussions are now in place between Chilterns and TransPennine that will allow the ongoing TransPennine franchise to retain the trains until May, 2015. That will allow more time for a solution to be found”.

Mr Sheerman said losing the rolling stock would only create more congestion on the trans-Pennine route linking Huddersfield with towns and cities including Dewesbury, Leeds, Hull, Newcastle, Manchester and Liverpool.

Speaking after the debate, which was called by Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Angela Smith, Mr Sheerman said: “It is a real crisis. We need an excellent, high quality service across the Pennines and between towns and cities in the region. Some of the rolling stock I use from Wakefield to Huddersfield should be in the National Railway Museum.

“Congestion is a big issue with passengers often having to stand in 30-year-old boxes on wheels.”

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