NEW trains designed to travel over the Pennines will be passing through Warrington Central Station in just over two years.

The new fleet of trains, costing £250 million, will be high powered with excellent acceleration to boost performance on hilly routes.

They will be easier to board and will have air conditioning, advanced passenger information systems and CCTV.

And journey times will be reduced by up to 10 minutes.

Operating companies FirstGroup and Keolis have named Siemens as preferred bidder for the fleet.

Jean-Pierre Deghaye, Keolis director, said: "Passengers will notice a big advance in comfort and reliability when the new trains enter service, and this is a key part of our commitment to improve rail quality and attract more people to rail."

And Kevin Tutton, managing director of Siemens Transportation Systems in the UK, said: "We are committed to investing in the UK railway industry, and to working with the Strategic Rail Authority and train operators to deliver the improved performance that rail passengers deserve."