Rail electrification vital for region

GOVERNMENT plans to electrify the Manchester-Liverpool rail line, missing out Warrington, have been criticised by a Town Hall chief.
Andy Farrall, Warrington Borough Council’s strategic director for environment and regeneration, says electrification of the railway between the two cities is essential and a critical element of the North West’s infrastructure.
But the opportunity to electrify the Warrington section of the link should not be missed.
Under the government proposal, the line which runs through Newton-le-Willows would be electrified.
Mr Farrall says it would be preferable to electrify the Warrington route for a wide range of reasons.
He says it would be an essential part of the infrastructure needed for the Atlantic Gateway – a massive project involving revitalising the Manchester Ship Canal and including the creation of a “Port Warrington.”
This is one of the most significant growth and development corridors in the UK, if not Europe, says Mr Farrall.
The Warrington route also runs through three of the most significant economic development sites in the North West – Birchwood Business Park, Omega and Warrington town centre and waterfront. All three have existing or planned railway stations.
In addition there is the developing Daresbury Park and the Parkside Business Park, a proposed major distribution centre.
“This makes Warrington the focus for one the largest clusters of economic development opportunities and job growth in the UK. Electrification of the Warrington route would provide huge impetus to these opportunities and enable major regeneration and economic growth in the region.”
Mr Farrall also suggested that electrification could provide an opportunity to create a state-of-the-art transport hub with a new rail station at Warrington, linking the Manchester-Liverpool route and the West Coast Main Line and providing shuttle links to both Liverpool John Lennon and Manchester airports.