NEW electric trains are set to race through Bank Quay Station this month. But is this the start of major improvements at the station or is development still being stopped in its tracks?

The first tilting Virgin Pendolino train made a stop at Bank Quay on Monday as it transported commuters from Preston to London.

A spokesman for Virgin confirmed it was "likely" that the new trains would be passing through Warrington on a regular basis this month.

But he added that they would only be running one fast service a day and building up from there.

Brendan O'Friel, chairman of the Rail Passengers Committee for the north west, said: "We think the new electric trains are very good and we are waiting to see how they turn out."

However, plans by the Strategic Rail Authority to delay modernising the West Coast Mainline north of Weaver junction, near Crewe, could seriously stall service improvements.

And, according to Mr O'Friel, yet another operator is vying for the integrated Wales and Border franchise that runs trains from North Wales, through Bank Quay, to Chester.

"Every time you add another company it's another lot of people to deal with and to the punter catching the train it's very confusing. I hope it won't make services any worse," he said.

Meanwhile Steven Broomhead, chief executive of Warrington-based Northwest Development Agency, has written to BBC diy show Changing Rooms for help in giving the station a face-lift.

He said: "We approached the BBC with a view that they might want to do 'Changing Stations'. I believe it's under active consideration."

Mr Broomhead said he hoped that Bank Quay would benefit from the £8million investment into the West Coast mainline.

But a spokesman for Network Rail, the station's landlords, said that they had no plans for an upgrade.