PLANS for a new station at Middlewich received a much needed boost this week when a nation rail organisation gave potential financial backing to the scheme.

The Strategic Rail Authority, which oversees all the funding allocations to the nation's rail network, has earmarked the regeneration of the Middlewich branch line as one of a number of major projects in the north west.

The development work forms part of the authority's rail passenger partnership scheme, which has promised £430 million to be spent on local projects throughout Great Britain.

The announcement is the culmination of tireless work by local rail groups Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association and Middlewich Rail Link Campaign, which have led a campaign to reopen the Middlewich branch of the railway.

The station campaign also received the backing of Railfuture, formerly known as the Railway Development Society, which, in a document titled Enhancing The Rail Network In The North West, put forward proposals for new and reopened passenger and freight routes including Sandbach, Northwich and Middlewich.

The station re-opening has also been recommended in the West Midlands/North West Conurbations Inter-Modal Study and was even mentioned on the BBC's North West Tonight programme.

Dave Roberts, chairman of the Middlewich Rail Link Campaign, said: "From all of this, it will be obvious that the idea of re-opening the Middlewich branch, and Middlewich station, to passengers is very far from dead.

"We call on all those involved, and in particular on the county council, to redouble their efforts to make sure that the momentum is not lost and that Middlewich, sooner rather than later, regains its place on the national rail network."

ghellam@guardiangrp.co.uk