COMMUTERS face more frustration after being told there is ‘no movement’ over getting three trains an hour at Warrington West railway station.

The over budget £20.5 million site in Chapelford opened in December, however, the current timetables only have two trains an hour in each direction to Liverpool and Manchester – not the three that had been promised.

Councillors have taken Northern and Network Rail to task on the issue and the matter arose again during the supporting the local economy policy committee meeting at the Town Hall on Tuesday.

David Boyer, the council’s director of transport and environment, said the Labour-run authority will ‘continue to press the case’ on the issue after being pressed by Cllr Paul Warburton (LAB – Chapelford and Old Hall).

But Mr Boyer told members there is ‘no movement’ at the moment, that the council is not ‘100 per cent convinced with some of the rationale presented to us’ on why three trains an hour are not running and that he believes there would appear to be ‘spare capacity’ on the line.

He also says the council has been ‘very disappointed’ with the number of services provided, as three trains an hour were originally agreed in the franchise.

“I think as a result of disastrous timetable changes that happened in May 2018 there has been a reneging on that,” said Mr Boyer.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington West railway station

“We will continue the challenge but, at the moment, there is no movement. But we will absolutely continue to press our case.”

Northern has pointed to its statement on the issue released in November.

A spokesman said: “We fully understand the frustration of customers awaiting the opening of Warrington West station.

“We absolutely want – and aim – to deliver three services an hour from the station. But can only do this when the current capacity issues in Manchester are resolved.

“We introduced two services an hour as part of the December timetable change, which was also designed to deliver improved reliability, punctuality and stability.

“Customers at Warrington West also benefit from the introduction of our brand new trains which call at the station as part of the Liverpool to Manchester Airport service.”

Network Rail, the operator of the rail network, says when any new station is added to the rail network, it has to ‘strike a careful balance’ so any additional services or stops ‘do not adversely impact’ existing trains.

A spokesman added: “Currently, that means two trains per hour are able to call at Warrington West station.

“We’ve worked closely with train operators to provide passengers in Warrington and further afield with the most reliable service.”