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Port may get new rail link
TRAINS could once again be travelling to Fleetwood.
Railway companies are proposing re-opening many of the branch lines –
including the one to the port – closed by Dr Richard Beeching 40 years ago.
Fleetwood's main railway station, on Queen's Terrace, closed in April 1966 as part of the sweeping cuts.
But trains could again be arriving in Fleetwood after the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) insisted there was enough demand to build a business case to re-open at least 14 lines.
ATOC chief executive Michael Roberts said: "Record passenger numbers and rising demand require us to plan for the long term, while climate change and population growth make it vital we adapt the rail network for tomorrow's needs.
"Providing attractive new services and easier access to the network will encourage passengers to switch to rail from other modes of transport.
"We have established there is a strong business case for investment to bring a number of towns back onto the rail network. Now we need to safeguard these routes and develop the detailed case for investment."
Leader of Wyre Council, Coun Russell Forsyth, said it could be "massive" news for Fleetwood.
He said: "Chief executive Jim Corry and I meet companies and each time we talk about the possibility of reopening the rail link they are very excited about it.
"The report by AOTC talks about re-opening lines and stations that have been removed. But in our case, Fleetwood and Thornton is highlighted in their report. We tick more boxes because at Thornton and Burn Naze the stations are still there and so are the lines so I am really encouraged that, nationally, the link to Fleetwood has been recognised.
"It's integral to the Fleetwood Masterplan. Having rail links to Preston and Manchester and the national rail network would be wonderful."
Leader of Wyre's Labour group, Coun Clive Grunshaw, added: "It would be great and we must rally round this.
"One of the things holding Fleetwood back is lack of access and transport links. Loss of the railway was one of the reasons for Fleetwood's decline. If we could get the rail link it would be a major step
forward in improving Fleetwood."
Fleetwood railway station was
demolished following its closure more than 40 years ago and a restaurant was built on part of the site.
In 1973 the remainder was developed into a container port facility,
operating ro-ro service to Northern Ireland, which is still in use.
The Beeching report by Dr Richard Beeching in the 1960s cut the railway network by a third, closing 2,000 stations and 5,000 miles of track.
But the ATOC report stated some 40 towns not currently on the rail network could benefit from the 14 new lines.
Any decision on whether any of the plans get the go ahead would be taken by local and regional government, Network Rail and the Department for Transport.
If all the plans are authorised the costs could reach 500m.
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Weather for Blackpool
Sunday 12 February 2012
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