BLACKROD station could be run off the rails when Horwich Parkway opens, it has been claimed. Blackrod town councillor Marlene Winward has predicted doom for Blackrod in the face of competition from the new station near Middlebrook - due to open in the summer. She said better parking and other facilities at the station would leave Blackrod underused which could lead to its closure.

She warned Lostock - which has chronic parking problems - could suffer the same fate.

And added: "I have been concerned for a long time now. Everyone in Blackrod should be concerned about the station."

She said there was less than a mile between the stations so train users would choose super modern Horwich rather than an old station like Blackrod.

She added: "It would be a great pity if Blackrod station did close. The town would loose an important facility. "If the Government claims to want green transport, I would hope it wouldn't allow such a thing."

But Railtrack, which owns the station, denied there were proposals to close it.

Spokesman Nigel Barber said: "We have got no plans at the moment to close Blackrod station and the intention is that it will stay open alongside Horwich Parkway."

North Western Trains, which runs trains to Blackrod from Manchester and Blackpool, said the service was protected by law. Spokesman Keith Lumley said the only way the service could be reduced would be for local councillors on Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTE) to change the rules of the operators franchise.

But he added this would be unlikely as it would involve a difficult and lengthy process and appeared to be against current political thinking.

Trains stopping at Blackrod are already operating at the minimum level permitted by GMPTE - which is one train an hour in both directions off peak and one every half hour during the rush hour. It takes 10 minutes to get to Bolton, 34 minutes to get to Manchester Piccadilly, and 53 minutes to get to Manchester Airport.

Preston is 21 minutes away and Blackpool North is 48 minutes away.

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