The North Cheshire Rail Users Group have published their Summer Newsletter ....
3rd June 2024
A long-term vision for a ‘metro’ styled service around the Mersey Basin …
29th February 2020
The North Cheshire Rail Users Group was last night officially recognised for 30 years hard work ....
8th December 2019
A temporary scaffold footbridge will now NOT be provided at Frodsham ....
1st June 2019
30 years of campaigning officially came to an end today on Saturday 1st June as two semaphore signals were unveiled in Castle Park .....
A Potted History:
Although a line from Hooton to Warrington has existed since 1863 (the Hooton to Warrington Bank Quay Railway), today the line is more commonly referred to as Hooton – Helsby as it is Helsby Junction where the line joins the North Cheshire Line running from Chester through to Warrington Bank Quay.
Freight traffic was immediately successful and much evidence of the supporting rail network can still be seen around Stanlow and Ellesmere Port although this gradually dropped off with the construction of oil pipelines and the trunk road and motorway system. Freight saw a small re-emergence when a branch line and new rail terminal were commissioned to bring sand to the nearby Encirc glass factory in 2017, supplying some 78% of the facility’s sand and 65% of the cullet (recycled glass) requirements. In late 2022 the export of finished glass products by rail freight was trialled.
The DC electrified 3rd rail (as currently used by the Merseyrail Class 777) units terminates at Ellesmere Port and therefore passenger services beyond Ellesmere Port today are limited to a few daily workings to Helsby via Ince and Elton stations, provided by Northern Railways - they are in effect Parliamentary Trains that form part of Northern’s franchise obligations. Passenger numbers have dwindled over the years to the point Ince and Elton became one of Britain’s least used stations averaging just 1 passenger every 4 days in 2024. The nearby Stanlow and Thornton station did actually make Britain’s Least Used Station in 2018/19 with 46 passengers recorded, and then again in 2020/21 with 0 passengers recorded, however the station was ‘mothballed’ the preceding year due to a footbridge failure.
Some of the stations (Ellesmere Port, Ince and Elton and Stanlow) along the Hooton to Helsby Line were earmarked for closure at the time of the Beeching Report, but given a last-minute reprieve.
Today’s Campaign:
The opportunity to have meaningful connections to Ellesmere Port and the places of employment, education and recreation along the route from Warrington Bank Quay haven’t been lost on NCRUG.
A Merseyrail service beyond Ellesmere Port could lead to a complete continuous rail service around the Mersey Estuary and directly connect communities that have hitherto only been accessible to one another by car.
- In 2012 when Merseyrail worked up the specification for the next generation of rolling stock, 7 of the Class 777 units chosen would be delivered with batteries fitted to enable the trains to operate beyond the existing electrified 3rd rail.
- Services on battery power to the newly opened (2023) Headbolt Lane station have been successful and extensions to the Merseyrail network beyond Bidston and Ellesmere Port are being considered.
- In 2020 a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) was Jointly commissioned by Cheshire West and Chester Council and Metro (formerly Merseytravel) to explore feasibility of Merseyrail services beyond Ellesmere Port. The SOBC was commissioned as a core part of an application for ‘Restoring your Railway’ funds and included a new station on the line to be built to the west of the Stanlow refinery site. Although unsuccessful, the councils were invited to reapply although scheme was then discontinued with the change of government in June 2024.
- In 2021 a follow-up specific demand study was conducted with businesses and residents between Hooton and Helsby.
- In May 2024 as part of the Liverpool City Region’s Mayor’s re-election campaign the construction of 3 new stations were committed to as part of the plans for Merseyrail expansion, 1 of which would be at Daresbury in Cheshire, supported by Merseyrail services from Ellesmere Port.
- In December 2024 AECOM were selected to further develop the business case for the new stations and Merseyrail services through to Warrington Bank Quay.
NCRUG has been working with all stakeholders throughout, including Northern, to see a meaningful rail service on this line that connects all parts of Merseyside and Noth Cheshire seamlessly. The campaign has generated considerable interest in the community and is supported by our local councillors. If you think you can help with this campaign please do contact NCRUG.
NCRUG has been working with all stakeholders throughout, including Northern, to see a meaningful rail service on this line that connects all parts of Merseyside and Noth Cheshire seamlessly. The campaign has generated considerable interest in the community and is supported by our local councillors. If you think you can help with this campaign please do contact NCRUG.
Click here to view the 2019 map showing proposed Merseyrail extensions beyond Ellesmere Port to re-connect at Liverpool South Parkway. The Daresbury Station concept has pushed the proposed extension up the North Cheshire Line to Warrington Bank Quay, ultimately returning to Liverpool via Earlsetown?
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