WARRINGTON Borough Council is calling on the Government to urgently rethink proposed changes to train timetables which would have a detrimental impact on the town’s seven railway stations.
The Government is currently seeking views on proposals put forward by its Manchester Recovery Task Force (MRTF), which aim to address the poor performance of rail services to, from and through central Manchester. This has been the source of significant disruption and delays across the entire north of England for many years, but in particular since the changes introduced into the rail timetable in May 2018.
The consultation will inform potential changes to the passenger timetable that would be implemented from May 2022. Three options have been put forward by the Government, with the stated objective of improving rail performance.
In response to the consultation, the council has written to the Government to state that – while supportive of work to improve the performance of Manchester-bound services – it strongly opposes all three of the options as they stand, due to the impact it would have on services at Warrington’s seven railway stations.
Under Option A put forward by the MRTF:
• Warrington Bank Quay would lose its direct connectivity to Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly.
• The Transport for Wales service would be re-routed from Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport to instead operate to Stalybridge via Manchester Victoria. All Manchester-bound services from Bank Quay would, therefore, go to Victoria.
The implications of Options B and C are:
• Warrington Central, Warrington West and Birchwood would lose direct connectivity to Manchester Airport.
• There would be a loss of direct cross-Warrington connectivity – for example a journey from Warrington West to Birchwood would require a change of trains at Warrington Central.
• Smaller Warrington stations would lose their direct connectivity to either Liverpool or Manchester.
• Significant numbers of passengers would be required to change trains at Warrington Central.
Option C would also see Warrington Bank Quay lose direct connectivity to both Manchester Airport and North Wales.
While the council is opposing all three options as they stand, it is urging the Government – if Options B or C are taken forward – to add a Birchwood call to the Liverpool to Nottingham service as a priority. This would mean this service would serve all three principal stations in Warrington, namely Warrington West, Warrington Central and Birchwood.
The council has also stated that, under Options B and C, a Warrington West call should be added to the semi-fast service from Liverpool to Cleethorpes. This would mean this service would also serve all three principal stations in Warrington.
Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transportation and Public Realm, Cllr Hans Mundry, said: “We recognise the need for changes to improve the performance of rail services into Manchester. Indeed, we would ordinarily be supportive of any proposals to improve the reliability and performance of services that call at stations in Warrington.
“However, we cannot support any simplifying of service patterns if they result in a significant worsening of services at stations in Warrington. The Government’s proposals would have a disproportionately negative impact on us, compared to other parts of Northern England.
“A particularly concerning aspect of the proposals is that they rely on the removal of services to key destinations in Greater Manchester. None of the options consider improvements to the rail infrastructure that is so desperately needed in the North of England. As such, they do a disservice to the people of the North – and do nothing to support the levelling-up of the country, as we seek to recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Options B and C, in particular, are wholly unacceptable to the council and our residents and businesses, in their current form. If they were to be taken forward, we would, as a minimum, expect to see a Birchwood call added to the Liverpool to Nottingham service and a Warrington West call added to the semi-fast service to Cleethorpes. This would at least go some way to providing mitigation for the reductions proposed and provide a more balanced solution.
“Overall, we believe these plans threaten to reduce the accessibility that has played a role in making Warrington an attractive location for investment, and as a result would unfairly impact on our economy.
“It is for these reasons that we have written to the Government to state our opposition to the proposals, and to strongly urge them to reconsider.”
