Passengers in the North West will be able to have more of a say on how local rail services are run with the designation of the line between Preston and Ormskirk as a community rail line, Rail Minister Theresa Villiers announced recently.
Designation enables train companies to work more closely with community rail partnerships to better design services to meet local need.
Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said:
“I am delighted to be able to make this announcement ahead of the national ‘Community Rail Awards’ which aim to reward excellence and promote best practice in community rail development work.
“Designation means that local communities can become even more involved in how these services run and encourage train companies to provide the services local people want.”
Ian Bevan Managing Director of Northern Rail, which runs services on the route, said:
“Northern welcomes the designation of the Preston – Ormskirk line as a community rail route. This line plays an important role in the area and designation will assist in identifying innovative ways of developing this line to the benefit of local people and visitors to the region.
“The community rail partnership for the line is already doing a great job and this will enable it to go from strength to strength.”
County Councillor Tim Ashton as Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation at Lancashire County Council said:
“This is an important landmark in the development of the Preston to Ormskirk line.
“The County Council is committed to working with the West of Lancashire Community Rail Partnership, the railway industry and the Department for Transport to implement the Route Prospectus and especially to promote the introduction of a clock face and easy to remember timetable.
“The achievement of Community Rail designation is an important part of the process and one I hope that will bring tangible and lasting benefits to the communities served by the line”.
Roger Bell, Chair of the West of Lancashire Community Rail Partnership said:
“Designation marks the start of a new chapter in the history of the Preston to Ormskirk line. For many years the Community Rail Partnership has been seeking improvements to the train service along the line.
“Through designation and with the help of the railway industry we hope this aspiration can now be realised.
“The Community Rail Partnership has developed an Action Plan that sets out how the aims and objectives of the Route Prospectus can be achieved. I look forward to exciting times ahead.”
