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Full speed ahead – Lancashire County Council outlines next steps for the Skelmersdale Train Station

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Cllr Julie Gibson

County Cllr for Skelmersdale West, Julie Gibson, has secured confirmation of the next steps for the Skelmersdale Train station. She said: “Like many in the town I was delighted at the announcement of the preferred site and at the recent Full Council meeting of LCC I asked Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, County Cllr John Fillis, what were the next steps.”

She continued: “Cllr Fillis outlined that the next step would be to clear the Glenburn Station Site of all buildings and then undertake a GRIP 3A study.  The GRIP (Guide to Rail Investment Process) 3A study is an engineering study which will take approximately 18 months to complete and will look in detail at ground conditions, timetabling, track alignment.  Whilst 18 months may seem a long time it is vital that this time is spent on the study as the completion of it will enable the County Council and its partners to have a much clearer idea of the overall scheme and the costs associated.”

Cllr Gibson said: “The design and development of the project will take a number of years but Cllr Fillis has confirmed that at this stage it would be possible for Network rail to start construction work in 2022/2023 – 5 or 6 year’s time. This is fantastic news for the people of Skelmersdale and will coincide with the Town Centre Development which will bring new opportunities to the town.”

Cllr Gibson said: “A Project Board has been set up to give strategic direction and includes partners Merseyrail, Merseytravel, West Lancashire Borough Council, Northern and Network Rail.  Working with our partners we aim to deliver a train station that will see Skelmersdale link with Manchester, Liverpool and Preston; a hub that will enable people to go out to work and play and bring people into stay.”

She concluded: “This is a very exciting time for the people of Skelmersdale and West Lancashire.  The train station will bring economic benefits to the whole of the Borough and provide a key connection for motorway and rail traffic.”

1 COMMENT

  1. Preferred site not confirmed. Let’s see. Perhaps it could go where the preferred hospital site was going to be. Won’t hold my breath

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