Government announcement regarding Halton Curve funding coupled with several other investments in Liverpool City Region:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chanc...-liverpool
Some good news on this long standing proposal at last!
Just need to ensure pressure in kept up to ensure public awareness and need to express demand for services to run between Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool South Parkway (For John Lennon Airport), Runcorn, Frodsham etc and Chester/North Wales. Be interesting to see operator response and interest in serving the area with sensible timetable!
I believe the Halton Curve last saw regular (as opposed to diversionary or parliamentary services) in about 1975. Currently it can only be used in the Chester to Liverpool direction as one set of points was lifted at Halton Junction.
I was lucky enough to ride on one of the Helsby Hooton 150 specials over this line last summer.
It would be great to see Halton Junction reinstated the other direction, the line doubled and a regularly scheduled service.
Only £10.4 million has been allocated by the Chancellor for the upgrade. Sounds like a single line with ladder junctions at each end.
(04/07/2014 22:09)childwallblues Wrote: [ -> ]Only £10.4 million has been allocated by the Chancellor for the upgrade. Sounds like a single line with ladder junctions at each end.
Well the single line is already in place (may need track renewing) but £10m + seems a bit expensive for just a ladder crossover at each end
(04/07/2014 23:37)507022 Wrote: [ -> ]Well the single line is already in place (may need track renewing) but £10m + seems a bit expensive for just a ladder crossover at each end
And associated signalling , don't forget the line is only signalled in one direction.
This Saturday 4th July the 0753 CTR to RUN (0810) is extended to LPY arrive 0825.
The first passenger train to run over the newly rebuilt line between Halton Junction and Frodsham Junction took place yesterday. This was the 1018 Northern Belle from Liverpool South Parkway to Cosford. The locomotives were reported to be 57313 and 57316.
The return working was also routed via the up and down through line at Crewe, and was noted to only have two coaches occupied. The final leg was booked to run from Chester to Liverpool SP via Crewe rather than the chord.
There was little or no publicity for the Northern Belle service in Liverpool.
Reportedly The Queen got to ride the Halton Curve in her Royal Train yesterday.