The bid to double services on the South Fylde line has been boosted by plans to increase capacity at Preston Station.
Fylde MP Mark Menzies lodged a Restoring Your Railway bid for the South Fylde line, aimed at doubling services on the line which runs to Blackpool South and serves Kirkham, Lytham, St Annes, Squires Gate, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Blackpool South.
That bid, lodged with Blackpool South MP Scott Benton, was subsequently accepted by the Government and awarded funding to prepare a full strategic outline business case.
Mr Menzies spoke in a Parliamentary debate on the delivery of transport infrastructure projects and questioned the Secretary of State on one of the bid's big challenges - finding more capacity at Preston Station.
Mr Menzies said: "I am delighted that the progress on my bid for the restoring your railway fund means that feasibility studies at Ansdell station are soon to begin, bringing the doubling of services on the South Fylde line closer than ever before.
"With more passengers on the line ending their journeys or transferring at Preston, which is already a busy station, what plans are in place to increase platform capacity at Preston station?"
Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps said: "I know that my hon. Friend has been campaigning tirelessly on this issue. It is fantastic that these Beeching reversals, with the restoring your railway bids, are helping to improve Ansdell.
"Increasing platform capacity is part of the proposals for Preston, which include extending platforms 3 and 4 and removing platforms 3c and 4c. It is very exciting, and I congratulate him on all the work that he has done to bring the issue forward for his community.
The Restoring Your Railway scheme aims to double services on the South Fylde line to two per hour, making it a viable proposition for commuters, those travelling to college and for medical appointments, and for visitors.
The best option looks to be a passing loop installed from Lytham to St Annes along the line through Ansdell, with the business case set to look at the implications of including Lytham and St Annes stations withing the loop, or just outside it.