Plea to reopen rail travel between Southport, Preston and Ormskirk rejected as campaigners vow to fight on

Campaigners have vowed to fight on after the Government rejected proposals to restore rail links between Southport, Preston and Ormskirk. 

A comprehensive bid to return the links through reopening the Burscough Curves, which were axed in the controversial Beeching Cuts in the 1960s, was submitted earlier this year to the Department for Transport (DfT), with cross-party support from MPs including Damien Moore (Southport, Conserrvative), Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire, Labour), Katherine Fletcher (South Ribble, Conservative), and Sir Mark Hendrick (Preston, Labour). 

Local rail campaign group OPSTA (Ormskirk, Preston and Southport Travellers’ Association) provided expert work to help draw up the ‘Restoring Your Railway: Ideas Fund Application, which was also supported by Lancashire County Council Leader Councillor Geoff Driver CBE, Lancashire County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Environment and Planning Cllr Michael Green, and local business leaders. 

They put forward substantial economic and social reasons behind connecting communities across Lancashire and Merseyside, which would directly impact a third of a million local residents and thousands of local businesses.

The scheme was seen as a ‘quick win’, achievable through the restoration of the Burscough Curves, relaying two miles of track to reinstate a two-way junction to allow the connections to reopen. 

New services would have used existing railway stations and added to the separate case for a reopened station at Midge Hall in Leyland.

The scheme would have opened two new routes with an hourly service between Preston and Southport. 

It would also have created an extension of the existing Merseyrail Liverpool to Ormskirk service with a half hourly service on to Southport.

The ‘high value, low cost’ project could be delivered within two years at a cost of up to £35million.

The Government has however announced alternative schemes for funding, leaving the Burscough Curves scheme on the shelf – for now. 

OPSTA Chair Alan Fantom said: “When the opening statement reads “The proposal makes a strong case for the intervention” for social and economic reasons and “a strong transport case with the area suffering from poor connectivity, congestion and air quality issues” it is very disappointing and hard to understand why the scheme is deemed unsuitable for the Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund.

“Southport and West Lancs has now suffered a second major blow on rail transport following DfT’s recent announcement it would terminate the Southport Manchester Piccadilly service at Oxford Road in just over a year’s time. When we hear of major transport investment in the northwest how is it that this region is being left behind?

“On both issues there are potential options for better outcomes if there is a will and OPSTA will continue to work with our MPs and local authorities to see what can be done.”

West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper said: “I am really disappointed by the Department for Transport’s decision and don’t agree with their reasoning or this outcome.

“The proposal made a very persuasive case that the reinstatement of Burscough Curves would have huge benefits, not just for West Lancashire, but Southport, Preston and the surrounding areas. 

“I will continue to work with the neighbouring MPs to make further representations to the Ministers. We are certainly not giving up!” 

Speaking earlier this year, Southport MP Damien Moore said: “Restoring the Burscough Curves has the capacity to open-up the northern rail network to many people in Southport and West Lancashire who are restricted by poor transportation links.

“I am grateful to those MPs who have lent their support to our proposals to reopen this vital service, and to Lancashire County Council and OPSTA which have produced the submission.”

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