A GROWING district of Preston could be about to get its own railway station, the Citizen can reveal.

Bosses at First North Western Trains are considering opening a station at Cottam in a bid to reduce congestion from the west side of Preston.

The firm says the plans for a train station in Cottam appear on a list of 20 possible sites around the county. But, unlike most of the other possible additions, to have trains stopping at Cottam would involve building a whole new station, instead of just refurbishing one which has become derelict.

Spokesman Keith Lumley said: "Cottam is a station we are looking at but there is a lot more to actually getting a station open than just saying we would like one there.

"Railtrack, who own the rail infrastructure would have to agree, then build a station to lease to us so we could stop our trains there."

Cottam is on the main Preston-Blackpool line and a new railway station would solve one major headache for University of Central Lancashire bosses. They are currently trying to find a good public transport link from the town centre to their multi-million pound sports centre in Cottam, due for completion in September.

Students had been concerned that the new sports centre would become a massive white elephant because, at present, no buses run near to the development.

And although any train station would be a few minutes walk away from the centre, the train services from the town centre to Cottam would be a lot quicker than any proposed bus route - and possibly cheaper.

University recreation officer Chris Bull said: "We have been told about plans for the railway station but it is a few years off yet."

Local councillor George Wilkins said the idea was first class.

He added: "It would be tremendously helpful for the area and I'm sure it would be well-used."

County councillor for the area, Bill Chadwick, said: "If we are to reduce traffic congestion, then new railway stations are a must."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.