A REPORT which suggests new Gadbrook Park and Middlewich train stations could eventually serve 140,000 passengers a year each has been welcomed by MPs.

Consultants WSP also suggested two routes could run along the Northwich to Sandbach line by 2033 – with services running to Crewe, Manchester and Birmingham.

The findings will now be used in a ‘strategic outline’ business case to be submitted to Government later this year.

Fiona Bruce, Conservative MP for Congleton, is delighted to see the work to bring passenger trains back to Middlewich – but insists the battle is not over yet.

She said: “As a long-time campaigner for the re-opening of Middlewich Railway Station – indeed this is one of my top constituency priorities which I have raised several times with transport ministers in the House of Commons – I was very pleased with this initial study, though obviously there is more work to be done.

Northwich Guardian:

“I was particularly pleased that the report recognises the station at Middlewich is ideally located for local people to walk and cycle to from both residential and employment areas and the town centre.

“I am delighted, as a member of the stakeholder group that contributes to this study, that it has identified the potential of offering value for money in terms of public investment in reopening Middlewich railway station – something which local people have long wanted, and I will continue to press Government hard to take this forward.

“Middlewich is a town which I am determined to see is put more firmly on the map of Cheshire and beyond.”

The progress has also been praised by the Gadbrook Park’s MP Esther McVey, Conservative MP for Tatton.

She said: “I am very supportive of the proposal for a station at Gadbrook Park – both for local residents and for businesses based there.

Northwich Guardian:

“At the same time we have to ensure that the local lines are improved, both in terms of speed and frequency of service. The two things have to go hand in hand.”

Following three decades of campaigning from the Mid Cheshire Rail Link group, work has stepped up thanks to support from Cheshire East and West councils, and the Cheshire and Warrington local enterprise partnership (LEP).

Mike Amesbury, Labour MP for Weaver Vale, would welcome the new line as a way of improving the experience of commuters in Northwich.

He added: “There is huge amount of work that’s gone into pressing the need for improvements from the likes of Cllr Andrew Cooper, the LEP and the Mid Cheshire Rail Link Campaign among others.

Northwich Guardian:

“As ever though this would obviously hinge on the Department for Transport and sadly its performance on issues such as the promised two trains an hour and HS2 has been less than impressive.

“I’ll therefore be doing whatever I can at a Parliamentary level to ensure the Department fulfils its side of the bargain so we can finally see some real improvements for commuters in my constituency.”

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A DFT spokesman said: “We are working closely with the LEP as it progresses this work, alongside Transport for the North and Network Rail, and we look forward to receiving the strategic outline business case later this year.”