THE Leader of Warrington Borough Council Cllr. Hans Mundry has secured support from regional leaders for a new national transport hub in Warrington.
It follows Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announcing last October that the Conservative Government was scrapping the northern leg of HS2, the high-speed rail service which would have increased capacity on the rail network and have seen high speed trains stop in Warrington.
Cllr Hans Mundry, who is Warrington Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for Transport, has been working to secure the future of Warrington as a regional and national transport hub sitting at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse Rail.
The plan would connect Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, North Wales and the wider North of England through Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) to the West Coast Main Line which stretches from London to Glasgow and Edinburgh. This would be achieved through a new Warrington Bank Quay Low Level Station to be built alongside the existing station.
The NPR project, which would see new rail infrastructure built between key northern cities, is backed by Transport for the North, local and combined authorities across the north of England, and the rail industry. The plans will increase connectivity, productivity and grow the economy across the North.
NPR will help to stimulate the regeneration of Warrington town centre with the development of the area around Bank Quay Station, known as ‘Bank Quay Gateway’. The development site, consists of extensive brownfield land.
Councillor Mundry has secured support for Warrington as a transport hub from regional leaders such as Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham and Transport for the North, the regional transport body set up to make the case for strategic transport improvements across the north of England.
The Government has invited northern leaders, including the Leader of Warrington Borough Council, to restate their case and input on the future of NPR.
Councillor Mundry has said he remains steadfast in his view that Warrington is best placed to house a transport hub, connecting the north of England with the rest of the country and it is vital that NPR serves the centre of Warrington at Warrington Bank Quay hub station.
Cllr. Mundry said:“I’m committed to putting forward Warrington’s case to be a new national transport hub, connecting the great towns and cities of the north with the rest of the country.
“The increased connectivity will improve productivity, grow our economy, and see thousands more visitors to Warrington every year.
“Regional leaders, including Andy Burnham Mayor of Greater Manchester, Steve Rotheram Mayor of Liverpool City Region and I have been pivotal in championing the North and the significant improvements NPR could bring to the region including transport, infrastructure, and the economic growth.
“Historically, the North has seen less investment in our transport infrastructure than other parts of the country. Without the collective commitment of Northern Leaders to Northern Powerhouse Rail, the programme would never have been considered a possibility.
“I will continue to fight for proper improvements to our infrastructure and I hope the relevant bodies will provide the investment needed to secure our future and our regional economy.
6 Comments
How about they focus on more trains from Warrington West instead of adding a low level station to serve places like Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, North Wales and the wider North of England which are already covered by trains from and through Bank Quay? Also how about reintroduction of an express service to Leeds from Warrington Central as the one from Bank Quay is not quick.
Quite right Pamela, it was those Regional leaders through Rail North that cut Warrington West services to Manchester to put the City Mayors’ patch above Warrington. They do not consider Warrington’s needs to be important. The low level station will probably only serve Liverpool and Manchester from Warrington.
Warrington West is not a convenient site to get to another mis management decision by WBC
Your comment makes little sense and displays a naivety towards Warrington West and Sankey stations
There is an opportunity with Levers leaving to create a more integrated transport hub, akin to those abroad. This would include a proper bus and taxi provision along with reasonable drop off and pick up. A new low level station connecting Manchester and Liverpool has benefits for the occasion when the central line is closed due to unfortunate circumstances.
I’m sure WBC would disagree with you there.
I’m sure they would like the old crosfields site to be a housing estate 400 dwellings at least ? Because WBC desperately need the money from the council tax the houses would generate after getting the residents of Warrington 2 billion pounds in debt !