Lancs link line could reopen, says top Tory
RAIL lines between Southport, Preston and Ormskirk could be reopened as a “quick win” to improve rail services in the North West.
Transport Minister Chris Grayling revealed that he was looking into the viability of the scheme as he visited Southport on Thursday to support the Metro Mayor campaign of Conservative candidate Tony Caldeira.
Mr Grayling said: “Reopening the Burscough Curves and reinstating direct rail links between Southport, Preston and Ormskirk is a project I am going to take a close look at.
“Over the next few years I want to see more and more commuters being taken off the roads and onto rail.”
The minister said he was keen to improve rail connectivity between towns and cities in the North West, and that restoring previously operational routes, rather than building completely new lines, was the type of “quick-win” solution he was keen to explore.
During the rail restructuring of the 1960s and ’70s the Burscough Curves which formed a link between the Ormskirk-Preston and Southport-Wigan tracks were removed, although the line of the route survives.
The north curve was taken out of use and severed in July 1969, last used for a Saturdays-only empty train from Blackpool to Southport. The last train ran on the south curve in 1982.
The passenger service from Ormskirk, through to Burscough Junction and on to Southport, which used the southern curve, was withdrawn in 1962.
Various schemes have been proposed, including complete electrification of the line from Southport via Burscough to Ormskirk using the same third rail system as Merseyrail uses on its tracks.
Mr Grayling said: “I have spoken to the Conservative team in Southport today about the prospect of reopening the Burscough Curves, and I want to look at this and see what we can do.
“But this is clearly one where I can see the benefits.’’
He added: “I am looking at projects like this where we can increase rail connectivity in the region by reviving previous routes which have been lost for half a century. It is the kind of scheme we are looking to do more of in the future.”
While in Southport, he defended Theresa May ducking out of the proposed TV debates between leaders of the main parties.
He said: “What we are going to have are six or seven weeks of national debate. There is not going to be a shortage of coverage or news about the General Election.
“Theresa May will be fighting the campaign in the country.”