Hopes for new rail link from East Lancashire to Manchester airport (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Hopes for new rail link from East Lancashire to Manchester airport

11:32am Thursday 1st November 2012 in News By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

A DIRECT rail link from East Lancashire to Manchester Airport should be a key aim for a major northern transport scheme, say county councillors.

Currently passengers have to change trains at least once to get from the region to the airport - and the number of connections becomes greater if you are travelling from Burnley, Pendle or Rossendale.

But under the Northern Hub initiative, a new section of track will connect Manchester’s Victoria and Piccadilly stations, allowing a straight-through route to the airport’s rail terminal.

Lancashire County Council has been consulted on a north-west aviation strategy by the government and has identified direct services to the airports, for residents from eastern boroughs, as a ‘must’.

Environment official Dave Colbert said in a report that the authority believed the airport had the capability to expand still further, and relieve demand from the likes of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.

But he has warned Whitehall that high-speed rail links between Manchester, Heathrow and Birmingham, must be considered in forward planning for the Northern Hub.

And he welcomed plans to electrify the line between Blackpool North, Preston and Manchester.

But he added: “However there are currently no direct train services between East Lancashire and Manchester Airport, and seeking a resolution to this deficiency will be a priority for the county council as the Northern Hub scheme progresses and the increased capacity this scheme will deliver (becomes) a reality.” One option could be to extend the existing Clitheroe to Manchester Victoria service, via Blackburn and Darwen, to the airport, when the Victoria to Piccadilly link is in place.

Another alternative could be, once the Todmorden Curve is reinstated, for Burnley Manchester Road services to be redirected via Rochdale and Victoria to the airport.