WARRINGTON Borough Council says it ‘strongly opposes’ proposed changes to train timetables which will have ‘significant implications’ for the town.

Alterations to services to and from the borough, which are due to be implemented from December next year, were announced last month as part of the Government’s Manchester Recovery Task Force.

This would see Warrington Central lost one train per hour to Manchester as a result of the removal a stopping service.

Central Station would also lose its direct service to Manchester Airport under the proposals, as would Warrington West and Birchwood.

And no stations in the town would have a direct train to the airport on Sundays.

Warrington West Station would be left with only one train per hour heading to the city, terminating at Oxford Road.

And WBC’s executive board member for highways, transportation and public realm Cllr Hans Mundry said: “We are committed to improving the quality of rail services in Warrington – it’s a key priority of our local transport plan.

“That’s why we cannot support any timetable changes which have a detrimental impact on services at our stations.

“It is extremely disappointing that, under these proposals, the direct connection to Manchester Airport from Warrington Central, Birchwood and Warrington West will be lost.

“Additionally, the Transport for Wales service is shown as being a Manchester Piccadilly to Chester service only on a Sunday and will not serve Manchester Airport – this means that Warrington will not have a direct service to the airport at all on a Sunday. “These proposals will also see Warrington West lose one of its inter-peak services each hour, leaving just one train per hour to Manchester.

“The service that would be lost is the semi-fast service that currently goes to Piccadilly and the airport, and only the stopper service will call at Warrington West.

“This means a journey time of 39 minutes to Manchester, compared to 27 minutes on a semi-fast service. This service will terminate at Manchester Oxford Road, meaning that Warrington West also loses its direct connection to Manchester Piccadilly.

“It’s also crucial that Warrington West and Birchwood stations are connected more frequently than the proposed one train per hour throughout the day.”

The council has now written to operators Northern Rail and Trans-Pennine Express ‘to state that it strongly opposes the proposals due to the detrimental impact it would have’.

Cllr Mundry added: “It is very disheartening that a whole rail industry-wide approach has not been taken to progressing options for performance improvements on Manchester services.

“Having train operating companies leading on timetable consultation and Network Rail leading on progressing infrastructure improvements has led to a position where Warrington now appears likely to suffer severe worsening of service levels.

“These proposals raise questions about the commitment to levelling up in places like ours.

“That’s why we have written to partners in the rail industry to state our strong opposition to the plans and to seek assurances that infrastructure investment will happen on the CLC line through Warrington.”