PLANS to extend the overcrowded car park at Winsford Station are being explored, it has been revealed.

Creating more space for passengers to park is just one of many improvements in the pipeline to make train journeys less stressful.

Northwich Guardian:

Passengers are being promised a higher quality journey with extra capacity and more reliable trains

Speaking exclusively to The Guardian, a West Midlands Trains boss pledged to reduce delays, make timetables simpler, increase staff and introduce new trains.

Northwich Guardian:

New trains, simpler timetables and extra staff set to reduce delays and disruption Picture: Ben Murray

Vicky Cropper, head of stakeholder and community for London Northwestern Railway, said:"When we put our ambitious timetable into operation last year we realised that it was really complex and struggled to deliver what we wanted. We acknowledge we let passengers down. We are really sorry and this is what we are going to do to improve it."

A new simpler timetable will see trains only serve regional destinations rather than the entire Liverpool to Euston line so there should be less delays and disruption.

An extra 80 drivers, conductors, train managers and frontline staff are being recruited to provide greater flexibility to cover sickness and annual leave.

An additional 81 new trains expected at the end of 2021 will create extra capacity. Existing trains will be refurbished.

"We want to give passengers a reliable service they expect and a higher quality journey," said Vicky. "More local service for local people, less cancellations and better performance."

Parking at Winsford, she said, is 'a real challenge'.

"We are in conversations with landowners and they are very positive,"said Vicky."If the time was right, the deal was right and it was the right thing to do we would definitely be interested in some land as part of the station quarter to develop into more car parking.

Northwich Guardian:

Talks are underway with landowners to create extra car parking at Winsford Railway Station

"We are also looking at the layout of the car park as we don't think we are using the space as well as we could be. We recognise there is a high demand for spaces."

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Talks are also underway with Cheshire and Chester Council and developers of new homes to improve connectivity between trains and buses and develop cycle and walking routes.

"We want to encourage people to use more sustainable travel but we've got to give them options to be able to do it."

New online customer panels will give passengers a voice.

The company is asking passengers to share their views to help build on recent performance improvements.

For more details visit wmr.uk/customer-panel