WARRINGTON Borough Council’s leader has secured support from regional leaders for a new transport hub in the town.

Cllr Hans Mundry, the council leader and cabinet member responsible for transport, has been working to secure the future of Warrington as a regional and national transport hub sitting at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse Rail.

The plan would connect Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, North Wales and the wider North of England through Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) to the West Coast Main Line which stretches from London to Glasgow and Edinburgh. This would be achieved through a new Warrington Bank Quay low level station to be built alongside the existing station.

The NPR project, which would see new rail infrastructure built between key northern cities, is backed by Transport for the North, local and combined authorities across the north of England, and the rail industry. The plans will increase connectivity, productivity and grow the economy across the north.

NPR will help to stimulate the regeneration of Warrington town centre with the development of the area around Bank Quay Station, known as ‘Bank Quay Gateway’. The development site, consists of extensive brownfield land.

Cllr Mundry has secured support for Warrington as a transport hub from regional leaders such as Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Transport for the North, the regional transport body set up to make the case for strategic transport improvements across the North of England.

The Government has invited northern leaders, including Cllr Mundry, to restate their case and input on the future of NPR.

Cllr Mundry said: “I’m committed to putting forward Warrington’s case to be a new national transport hub, connecting the great towns and cities of the north with the rest of the country.

“The increased connectivity will improve productivity, grow our economy, and see thousands more visitors to Warrington every year.

“Regional leaders, including Andy Burnham Mayor of Greater Manchester, Steve Rotheram Mayor of Liverpool City Region and I have been pivotal in championing the North and the significant improvements NPR could bring to the region including transport, infrastructure, and the economic growth.

“Historically, the north has seen less investment in our transport infrastructure than other parts of the country.

"Without the collective commitment of northern leaders to Northern Powerhouse Rail, the programme would never have been considered a possibility.

“I will continue to fight for proper improvements to our infrastructure and I hope the relevant bodies will provide the investment needed to secure our future and our regional economy.”