PASSENGERS at Runcorn East railway station are furious after services to Warrington were cancelled without warning.

First North Western have axed peak time journeys, one in the morning and one in the evening, leaving passengers with only an hourly service at the busiest times of the day.

The scrapping of the 8.42am and 5.31pm trains means commuters to Warrington now have to endure serious overcrowding on the remaining services.

Some people have resorted to having their evening meals at work because the trains are so inconvenient for them.

One angry commuter, Helen Cadwallader, of Runcorn, said the problem was particularly bad during term times, when the trains were full of children and students.

She said: "They didn't even tell us about the cancellations. We all turned up at 8.42 and the train didn't arrive. There were no posters or announcements.

"We are told to leave our cars at home and use public transport, and then this happens.

"Our train service since May has disintegrated."

A spokesman for First North Western said: "The summer timetables saw changes to stations between Chester and Warrington Bank Quay.

"As part of these changes, the 8.42 service to Liverpool Lime Street now starts from Warrington Bank Quay at 8.51."

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