End of the line for Southport to Manchester Piccadilly train service?

Following a recent consultation, The Minister for Transport has given Transport for the North until Friday 6 August to choose between the DfT preferred option B+ and sticking with the current covid timetable on the Manchester train lines.   

West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has previously hit out against option B+, as well as the two other options in the consultation as all three proposed to scrap the direct train from her constituency to Manchester Piccadilly.   

Rosie Cooper MP commented:
“Although neither options given by the Minister will resolve the significant problems the Manchester line has, implementing option B+ will seriously limit my constituent’s travel choices.  

“The direct train to Manchester Piccadilly is essential for my constituents travelling beyond Manchester and to the airport. Option B+ will add an unnecessary and very inconvenient extra step to that journey by ending all Southport line services at Victoria or Oxford Road.  

“The best of these two options for my West Lancashire constituents is to stick with the current Covid timetable. At least then we will still have regular trains going direct to Manchester Piccadilly, not having to get another train or tram from Oxford Road to Piccadilly!  

“If this isn’t acceptable and the Government is actually committed to finding a good alternative, they need to consider amending B+ to include an extension of the Southport line through to Manchester Airport. This will go some way to showing that Transport for the North and the Government do actually consider smaller local authorities and not just the bigger metropolitan areas!”