Warrington to benefit from £1.2 billion rail improvements

WARRINGTON will benefit from an overall package of improvements worth £1.2 billion across the rail network as a result of the new rail franchise agreements announced for the North of England last week.
Borough Council leader Terry O’Neill (pictured) has welcomed the news that Arriva Rail North has won the Northern franchise, while First Trans Pennine Express will run the TransPennine Express, both from next April.
*New trains will be introduced to the new ‘Northern Connect’ service between Liverpool, Warrington Central, Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport (the existing TransPennine Express service between Manchester and Liverpool will be operate instead via Newton-le-Willows).
*The direct link to Leeds will be maintained by a new hourly service from
Warrington Bank Quay via Manchester Victoria and Bradford, using brand new “Northern Connect” trains.
*This also provides an additional fast service to/from Chester. The service between Leeds and Chester will also run on Sundays.
*The proposed new Warrington West station will be served by the Northern route between Warrington Central and Liverpool, and will have six trains per hour.
Cllr O’Neill said: “Better trains, more frequent services and faster journeys can only be good news for residents and businesses in Warrington. And we will be pushing for guarantees that the
proposed Warrington West and other stations station will benefit from additional Sunday services.
“Rail users, especially people with disabilities, will welcome the commitment to phase-out the 30 year old ‘Pacer’ trains by 2020. The Northern stopping service from Lime Street to Oxford Road via Warrington Central will use fully refurbished rolling stock, while the Northern Connect services (to the Airport and Leeds) will use brand new, air
conditioned carriages with on board refreshments.”
Both the Northern and TransPennine Express franchises will be managed from Leeds, with the former running for at least nine years and the latter for a minimum of seven.
Over 500 new-build carriages, including 125mph intercity bi-mode trains (that run on both diesel and electric) will be introduced across both franchises.
Peak capacity will be improved, free wi-fi will be introduced on all trains by 2020, stations will be upgraded and customer services will be improved across the network.