WARRINGTON Borough Council plans to build a new railway station in Chapelford by 2016.

As part of a group called the Northern Rail Franchise, the council has submitted a bid to the Government’s New Stations fund to provide up to half of the £7 million required to build the new railway hub, which would be located near Chapelford Farm on the Central line.

It is hoped that the new station will form part of an improving transport network which will serve the Chapelford Village, the Omega sites and the wider area of west Warrington.

“What we need is a proper integrated transport strategy, to get people in and out of the area,” said council leader Terry O’Neill.

“The funding of the northern hub in Manchester and the electrification of the Chat Moss line from Manchester to Bank Quay has opened up capacity on the central line.

“I think if we put a new, all singing, all dancing railway station in that area, with a car park to offer a park and ride facility, people will get the train to Liverpool and Manchester and take some traffic off the roads.”

Partially funded by investment from David Wilson Homes and Miller Developments, it is hoped the station will serve west Warrington in the same way as Birchwood serves the east of the town, though there are no plans to stop services at the nearby Sankey station.

“The whole area is open for expansion so we need to have a good transport hub there,” added Clr O’Neill.

“Sankey will be reserved as a rush hour facility that will provide trains to Liverpool and Manchester in the busiest times in the morning and evening.

“However, the main station would be Warrington west and I think it will be integral to us providing a proper transport system for that area.”