Rail campaigners welcomed the Government's extra support for electrification, in the Chancellor's pre-Budget report in December.
"it's great that there is a commitment to further electrify the network, which will bring improved services to passengers and environmental benefits too," said Railfuture chairman Mike Crowhurst.
In the House of Commons, Chancellor Alistair Darling said: "Continued public investment here is essential to growth."
He confirmed that rail electrification programmes for the Great Western Main Line and the North West announced in July would continue.
But he added: "I have also given the go-ahead to further plans for rail electrification between Liverpool, Manchester and Preston."
The aim is to allow more trains to convert to electric traction. The extra stretches are between Huyton, Liverpool, and Wigan on the main London-Glasgow West Coast main line. The line from Manchester to Preston via Bolton and Chorley and the line from Preston to Blackpool North will also be electrified.
The electrification of the line through Chorley was welcomed by MP Lindsay Hoyle.
He said: "I've been lobbying for the electrification of the Manchester to Preston line for some time. An electrification scheme which will mean passengers in Chorley and other areas such as Bolton and Preston, will now benefit from a much-improved service with modern trains fit for purpose.
"With the construction of the railway station at Buckshaw Village, people in Chorley can now look forward to significant improvements in our railway infrastructure which will hopefully encourage more people to use the train.”
The new electrification plans fall well short of calls by Network Rail, owner of the rail network, to add the Midland main line – from Bedford to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.
Railfuture's Mike Crowhurst commented: "There will be disappointment in the East Midlands that there is no commitment to electrifying the Midland main line. There is a strong case for electrifying the Barking to Gospel Oak line in London too, and we will continue to push for a rolling programme of electrification."
Network Rail welcomed the Government’s support for further electrification.
It said: "This is a welcome further step towards a rolling programme of electrification. Yet more ambition is needed – we will continue to press the case for more, most importantly electrification is needed for the London to Sheffield Midland main line.”
Mr Darling also reaffirmed continued support for the Thameslink rail upgrade across London and the £16billion Crossrail east-west rail link across London.
For further information: Bruce Williamson, media spokesman
Tel: 0117 927 2954 Mobile: 07759 557389
email: media at railfuture.org.uk