Cheshire and Warrington leaders welcome announcement confirming Warrington as key Northern Powerhouse Rail hub
A new low-level station at Warrington Bank Quay is planned
Leaders across Cheshire and Warrington have welcomed the government’s announcement for long-term investment in rail links across the north of England, and for Warrington to be a major transport hub on the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) network.
The proposed 20-year NPR programme will combine new railway lines with upgraded infrastructure and aims to transform regional travel and support economic growth.
At the heart of the plans is a new low-level station at Warrington Bank Quay, which will serve as the only hub on the Liverpool to Manchester route, placing the region at the centre of the northern rail network, connecting Liverpool, Manchester, Manchester Airport, Chester, North Wales and the West Coast Main Line.
The plans would deliver four to six trains per hour between Liverpool and Manchester Airport, significantly reduced journey times, seamless integration between new and existing rail services, as well as long-term investment in the public and business infrastructure around Bank Quay itself, over a 30-year period.
It is expected that further details will be released in the coming weeks which are hoped will set out what this means for the wider sub-region, including connectivity for Macclesfield and Crewe, the rail gateway to the region, and north/south connectivity from Birmingham.
The West Coast Mainline, north of Handsacre, is nearing capacity. Work to increase capacity between Birmingham and Manchester is needed to ensure that travellers can move freely between NPR and to and from the West Midlands, the South East, North Wales, Ireland and beyond. Without this, the full potential of Crewe as a rail hub and the wider sub-region will not be realised.
So leaders across Cheshire and Warrington are keen to see the project move at pace, so that residents, businesses and visitors to the region can enjoy the benefits of more regular, faster rail connections as soon as possible.
With the establishment of Cheshire and Warrington as a Combined Authority with increased powers over transport investment, the region is well placed to build on this announcement over the next decade. These new powers will align national investment with what matters most to our regional communities and businesses.
Cllr Hans Mundry, Leader of Warrington Borough Council said:
“This announcement from the government is very exciting news for Cheshire and Warrington; putting the region at the heart of Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Improving our regional transport infrastructure is a key aspect of our ambition to be the most sustainable, healthy, inclusive, and growing economy in the UK. And this investment in Warrington as a key transport hub will bring huge opportunities, not to mention social, and environmental benefits to the whole region for generations to come.
We are also pleased that the scheme will enable local connectivity improvements across the Cheshire and Warrington area, enabling faster connectivity between Chester and Crewe to centres across the north of England.
The new Combined Authority will put Cheshire and Warrington in a position to play a leading role in creating prosperity across the region, the north of England and the country. Embracing devolution will give us a seat at the table to secure more investment from Westminster, including at our other major transport hubs such as Crewe and Chester.”
For more information about the Cheshire and Warrington devolution programme, and its vision for investment in improved regional transport for all, visit cheshireandwarringtondevolution.com.