AN MP has explained his absence from a Commons debate on rail services in the region.

Ian Swales, the Liberal Democrat MP for Redcar, along with Stockton South Tory MP James Wharton, were both cited by Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop as being absent from the debate.

It discussed the future of ageing rolling stock – specifically on the Northern Rail franchise route which runs through Mr Swales’ Redcar constituency – and the controversy over the decision to take nine locomotives from the TransPennine Express franchise and switch them to Oxfordshire.

Mr Swales said he had been chairing a Lib Dem Treasury group meeting before later having medical check-ups at a London hospital following operations he had recently undergone.

He said: “I was benefiting from our excellent NHS.”

Mr Wharton did not respond to calls from The Northern Echo.

Those present in the debate included Mr Blenkinsop and fellow Teesside Labour MPs Iain Wright, who represents Hartlepool, and Andy McDonald, the MP for Middlesbrough.

The MPs secured a pledge from transport minister Stephen Hammond that what they described as “shocking” quality Pacer trains leased by Northern on the Bishop Auckland-Saltburn rail link would have to be replaced as part of the awarding of a new franchise contract in February 2016.

Northern, whose headquarters are based in York, said it was working closely with stakeholders to campaign for better and newer trains and also pointed out that its services generated £650m for the North’s economy each year.