AS passengers face further disruption over the May Day bank holiday weekend, consumer watchdog Passenger Focus has called for train companies to use rail replacement services as a last resort — and to relax rules governing alternative routes.

The national passenger watchdog has asked train companies to follow Network Rail’s commitment to provide alternative rail routes during planned engineering works rather than put passengers onto bus replacement services.

It is also concerned that passengers using some alternative routes may end up paying more for their journey.

Ashwin Kumar, Passenger Focus director, said: “Passengers understand that engineering works need to happen to ensure a reliable and safe railway and it makes sense for these works to happen when fewer people are travelling.

“However, passengers would rather spend up to an hour extra on the train than change to a bus replacement service. Network Rail has made a commitment to ensure this happens whenever possible and the industry must deliver on this promise.

“This weekend, the quickest way of getting from London to Manchester is to avoid the engineering works by going via Leicester or Doncaster. Yet passengers have to buy two tickets for this journey, costing them more. This is unacceptable. When engineering works take place, the industry must relax its ‘Permitted Route’ rules so passengers aren’t paying more for slower journeys.”

Passenger Focus said the industry must also make certain it provides plenty of timely and accurate information to passengers during disruption to allow passengers to plan their journey and ensure the works are completed on time.