WARRINGTON Borough Council is calling for Northern to be stripped of its franchise following the rail ‘fiasco’.

Cllr Hans Mundry, executive board member for highways, transportation and public realm, proposed the motion calling for transport secretary Chris Grayling to take action during Monday's full council meeting.

It also urges Mr Grayling to 'start the process' of returning the service back into public ownership.

The motion was carried after an amendment, backed by the Liberal Democrats, seeking to remove the call for public ownership of the railways was rejected.

Since the introduction of the new timetable on May 20, many commuters have faced significant delays, cancellations and overcrowding.

Cllr Mundry (LAB – Latchford East) highlighted the private sector's 'failures' to deliver on public services 'people depend on' in the Town Hall chamber.

He said: "This council is appalled by the poor response from Northern Rail to the fiasco which is the rail service people in the north, and indeed Warrington, have to depend on.

"This council supports our two MPs as they pursue Northern Rail and the minister for a quick solution to the misery our residents are suffering – and hold Northern Rail and the minister to account.

"The council calls upon the secretary of state for transport to end Northern Rail's franchise and start the process of returning the service back into public ownership.

"We need to have full control of this situation."

Cllr Dan Price, executive board member for culture and partnerships, seconded the motion.

He said: "For me, this motion is about common sense.

"I understand the Liberal Democrat group's concerns about public ownership but I think that is the request we are asking for.

"The reality is these services don't seem to be accountable to anybody and what we are saying is bring them back into public ownership then we can decide the right way of delivering these services."

Cllr Ryan Bate (LD – Grappenhall) said the Liberal Democrats supported the motion 'almost in its entirety' but wanted to remove the public ownership element.

Cllr Peter Walker (LD – Stockton Heath) added: "Part of the problem that has been experienced by Northern Rail passengers is due to a publicly-owned Network Rail, as they have admitted.

"I have no confidence that the secretary of state, who is the accountable person, is going to, in my humble opinion, do anything to rectify the situation."