CONCERNED residents have accused the Department for Transport of 'turning back the clock' following an announcement over changes to routes from Warrington Central and Birchwood.

Buried in Government document 'Transforming the north's railways' released earlier this month, transport chiefs proposed scrapping Trans Pennine Express (TPE) trains from Warrington Central and Birchwood to Leeds, York and the north east and transferring the stations to Northern management.

Warrington Central is expected to be 'remapped' to train operator Northern in April 2016 while route changes will come in from December 2017.

Angry commuters have expressed disappointment they were not consulted about the proposals and have said a new service which will run between Chester, Warrington Bank Quay and central Manchester is a 'poor alternative'.

Transport bosses said the change to services between Warrington Central and Leeds was needed to avoid trains 'weaving across the throat of Manchester Piccadilly station'.

The report adds: "Whilst the route between Liverpool and Manchester did not form part of the remapping proposals in the Northern and TPE consultation, the consultation document explained that changes will be happening in the new franchises as part of the Northern Hub investment programme.

"From December 2017, TPE’s hourly service that currently operates from Liverpool to Leeds and beyond via Warrington Central and Manchester Piccadilly will be diverted to operate via Newton-le-Willows and Manchester Victoria.

"This means that from December 2017, Warrington Central and Birchwood will no longer be served by the current direct TPE services that run to Leeds

and beyond, but Northern will operate a replacement service between Liverpool Lime Street, Warrington Central and central Manchester.

"The new Northern service will operate between Chester, Warrington Bank Quay and central Manchester and will extend on to Leeds via the Calder Valley.

"This service will provide passengers from Warrington with the opportunity of a direct service to Leeds – from Warrington Bank Quay and via the Calder Valley – if they prefer to avoid a change of trains in central Manchester."