Passengers on a delayed train had to climb over spiked fences after they discovered they were locked in at Oxenholme station.
People on a delayed Avanti West Coast service from London arrived at the Lake District station to find that staff had gone home for the evening, locking up behind them.
Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, has demanded an investigation after passengers said they were forced to climb over the 7ft spiked gates and fences surrounding the station to leave.
Mr Farron said workers were told by the train operator that they could leave before the delayed train arrived.
He said it was an ‘unacceptable farce’ and added: “Additionally, there was the concern that passengers would be forced to cross the live tracks to find an alternative route out of the station.
“This is just a further example of the failures by Avanti.
“We have seen a mass of cancellations of Avanti services, failures in the reservation systems, and now a locked station.
“There are clearly systematic failures going on at Avanti and we cannot let it go unchecked.
“Avanti have turned one of the best services in the country into one of the worst. What happened last night could have very quickly become dangerous and I have already written to Avanti to demand an explanation for their oversight.
“We must now ask the question whether Avanti are a fit and proper outfit to run a franchise. The Department for Transport should seriously consider removing the franchise from them”
ENDS
