A PARLIAMENTARY roundtable event to discuss a Barnsley railway line’s long-awaited upgrade has been held.

Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, and Paul Davies MP, who represents Colne Valley, hosted the get-together to discuss the next steps of the forthcoming work.

They were also joined by officials from the Department for Transport and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Local MPs along the line Harpreet Uppal for Huddersfield and Jade Botterill for Ossett and Denby Dale also attended.

The discussion was focused on what key improvements are needed for the upgrade scheme to deliver, including increasing line speed to cut journey times and improving stations along the line.

Marie said: “Upgrading the Penistone Line is one of my top priorities as your MP.

“I listen to constituents across our communities who tell me how important the Penistone Line is to reaching work, education and healthcare and to see family and friends.

“The services are currently unreliable, overcrowded and overstretched.

“On the day that the previous Conservative government announced Network North was going to be spent on potholes in London, three out of six services running over a four-hour period were cancelled on the Penistone Line.

“I’ll be continuing to work closely with government and local colleagues to ensure this project delivers the urgent improvements our communities deserve.”