Town is left out of £27 billion rail boost (From Warrington Guardian)

Town is left out of £27 billion rail boost

HOPES that Warrington's railways would benefit from a cash boost have been de-railed, according to a Council transport chief.

Councillor John Joyce, Chairman of the Technical Services Committee, says Warrington has been left out of Railtrack's £27 billion boost for railways across the country which includes £1.5 billion in the North West.

Clr Joyce said: "Railtrack has agreed to support the Warrington Transportation Study, which demonstrates it is serious about looking at how the rail network could be developed at a local level and I welcome the company's commitment to consult on its plans.

"But it has still to achieve any physical works within the Borough except for those being carried out at Bank Quay. There are no station works on the Manchester to Liverpool line, nor any serious proposals for capacity improvements.

"We know they have plans for stations in the future, but as far as the travelling public of Warrington is concerned, all they see is service deterioration and a continuing lack of interest."

But a spokesman for Railtrack says Warrington rail travellers will benefit due to improvements going on in areas around the town.

"We have produced a £9 million package of improvements at Irlam where line speeds will be increased from 20 mph to 80 mph," he said, "and this will be completed in early June.

"Only last year, the lines at Birchwood and Glazebrook were replaced with continuously welded rails which improve the quality of the ride, efficiency and wear and tear, and we are looking at the possibility of track renewals on the Manchester side of Birchwood.

"Signalling will be improved in the Bank Quay area and on the lines between Weaver Junction at Frodsham and Preston as part of work on the West Coast Main Line. Warrington's passengers will see a real benefit from this work, especially in terms of line speeds."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.