PRESSURE is growing for a deal that should secure investment in a crucial train station.

Lobbying is ongoing for a decision on Virgin Trains bid for a long-term contract to operate Bank Quay Station - which sits on the vital West Coast Mainline.

Virgin currently only has a year-to-year contract to manage the station because of previous poor performance on reliability.

But the company wants the usual seven-year deal - that would make investing in the decrepit station worthwhile.

The parties are wrangling over how much money Virgin pays for the contract.

Brian Simpson, chairman of the north west rail campaign, said he is awaiting the result of the negotiations between Virgin and the Department of Transport.

"As soon as we have got that contract sorted, then we can actually go about doing up the station," said Mr Simpson, a former Euro-MP and Warrington resident.

He also hopes land near the station and the railway track can be converted for use as a car park - parking is the biggest problem at the station.

Mr Simpson said Helen Southworth MP has written to the railways minister to ask when the negotiations might be completed.

Her office was unable to comment.