It’s great news that the new and improved facilities for local rail and bus passengers at Newton-le-Willows Interchange will open to the public this weekend.

I’ve campaigned alongside local Labour councillors in Newton and Labour-led St Helens Council to lobby for increased investment in local transport infrastructure, and Labour’s City Region Mayor Mayor Steve Rotheram and Merseytravel responded by allocating almost £20m of funding to make these significant improvements:

-Step free access to and between the platforms via new subway and lifts
-Bus interchange adjacent to the new ticket office
-New 400-space car park
-Dedicated drop-off and pick-up area
-Improved passenger waiting facilities
-New toilet facilities
-Additional cycle parking

We now have the excellent facilities that commuters deserve and that befits Newton’s status as a town with a bright future at the heart of the North West, and one that has played such a significant role in Britain’s railways since 1830.

I’ll continue to keep the pressure on the rail companies to get their acts together and provide the services to match the facilities, and also to campaign for improvements to other stations in my constituency at Earlestown, Garswood and Rainford.