BOLD new plans have been unveiled to turn a disused rail route closed to passengers since 1964 into a heritage railway – a move supported by rail enthusiast and former government minister Michael Portillo.

Businessman and philanthropist Neil McArthur is heading up plans to revive 9.5km of disused railway track for a heritage railway carrying steam and diesel trains between Irlam and Timperley.

A cycleway and pedestrian route would run alongside the train line, which would also see the re-opening of Cadishead’s Viaduct, nicknamed Salford’s ugly ‘Berlin Wall’.

Neil pumped £2m into the project via the Neil McArthur’s Hamilton Davies Trust (HDT) and revealed the plans at an event at Irlam Station on Tuesday.

Michael Portillo, the presenter of BBC TV’s Great Railways Journeys series, was there to show his support.

He said: “The building of Britain's railways during the nineteenth century required vision, determination and entrepreneurial flair. Today, the re-opening of closed tracks requires the same qualities.

“I'm impressed by the zeal shown by the Hamilton Davies Trust. Heritage lines run all over Britain thanks to that kind of enthusiasm, and they bring pleasure to many thousands, and greatly boost the economic health of the neighbouring communities.”

The line lost its passenger service in 1964 and the freight service ended in 1984 with the closure of the Cadishead viaduct over the Manchester Ship Canal.

Neil hopes the re-opening of the line would bring together the communities of Partington, Carrington, Irlam and Cadishead, which are relatively close but badly served by transport routes.

His report calls for the re-opening of 9.5km of the former Cheshire Lines railway from Irlam to Timperley; the re-building of stations at Partington and West Timperley; and the re-opening of the Cadishead Viaduct along the route, which cuts off the communities of Irlam and Partington.

Neil has calculated the cost between £25m and £30m. The Hamilton Davies Trust is proposing the establishment of a new trust, the Cheshire Lines Railway Trust, to deliver the project.

Neil’s findings also highlight the possibility that the project could pave the way for a modern ‘heavy rail’ passenger service route, or even a future Metrolink extension, from Altrincham.

“The economic, social and environmental benefits would be huge,” said Neil.

“We’re asking the political representatives and transport bodies to join with us in exploring the art of the possible. Before the launch, we have held a workshop to discuss the options and we are encouraged by the positive response to take this forward.”