A KNUTSFORD councillor is urging residents to continue the campaign for the Middlewich Branch train line running from Sandbach to Northwich.

Cllr Andrew Malloy, of Over ward, is asking people to remain vigilant in the ongoing operation to get the passenger trains back up and running.

If reinstated, the route, which has been closed to the public since 1960, would provide transport links across Cheshire, including from Knutsford to Crewe.

Cllr Malloy is asking people to petition George Osborne MP to persuade him to lend his support for the reopening of the line to passenger traffic.

 “Currently, Knutsford has got no direct link to get to Crewe. If you can get to Crewe then you can get anywhere in the country,” he said.

“The only option at the moment is to drive to Wilmslow, Macclesfield or to Crewe. It seems daft to have to drive to another town.

“If we can get that line open, it opens up so many opportunities to get people into the town, and give people who want to, the opportunity to work in other areas of the country.

“It’s a win-win situation. It is important to try and keep up this campaign to get it open.”

The campaign, launched in 1992, is run by the mid-Cheshire Rail Users Association, who meet on a monthly basis.

Cllr Malloy said: “We are all fed up of the roads being really buy. Using this rail passage would create a great opportunity to get that traffic off the road.

“It would create a great opportunity to meet friends nearby for a meal and to get the train home; and it would be great for employment.

“I hope people get in touch with George Osborne. Write to him; go to his surgery, whatever they feel to stress the importance of reopening the line.”

Cllr Samantha Moss of Middlewich Town Council and member of the Middlewich Rail campaign group, said: “We are delighted to have the support of Cllr Malloy and the people of Knutsford on this vital infrastructure project, linking not only Knutsford to London via the Middlewich line but also connecting Cheshire In a way that has not been achieved for the last 50 years.

“Our track is in place, it is used only for freight trains and as recently as this August Virgin passenger trains used the line whilst diverted from the west coast mainline, proving again our line is ready now for passenger train use.

“With the forthcoming M6 road works, scheduled to last for three years, alternative transportation would be key in creating a faster congestion free mode of transport to travel around, not only within Cheshire but every major city in the UK, by simply reopening Middlewich railway station.”

The next campaign group meeting will take place at The Boar’s Head on Kinderton Street in Middlewich from on Tuesday September 29 from 8pm.