NCRUG News in Brief

NCRUG are reporting news at Helsby, Frodsham and Runcorn East Stations .....

Timetable changes: There are no major changes to the Arriva Trains Wales timetable this summer

Halton Curve Train: The Saturday only service, operated by Northern Rail which runs for the summer period only will run from 24th May until 6th September, leaving Chester at 07.53 and arriving at Runcorn (main line) at 08.14. Details of this year’s ‘one off’ amended service stopping at Helsbyand Frodsham and continuing to Liverpool South Parkway on Saturday 21st June, are given in our June 2014 Newsletter.

Station adoption conference: Seven members of NCRUG attended the Arriva Trains Wales, northern area station adoption conference in Chester on 29th April. We were shown two interesting presentations: one relating to the problems caused to the Cambrian Coast line by the winter storms and the other showing the many events at stations along the Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog Line forits150th anniversary.

Grant: North Cheshire Rail Users’ Group was awarded £100 following a presentation at the Frodsham Grants Show organised by Cheshire West and Chester Council. We will be putting this towards some new plants to replace old shrubs which were damaged during the installation of the new fencing. Helsby Island Platform: Railway Heritage Trust have approached NCRUG with the suggestion that the small buildings on the island platform at Helsby could be restored and handed over to the group for community use. Andy Savage, executive director met with members recently to examine the condition of the two buildings linked by an archway. The part already used by NCRUG as a storage area for gardening equipment is in reasonable condition. However, removal of boards blocking the doorway of the other room showed a considerable amount of damage had occurred during the years of neglect.

Helsby Hump: Members were surprised but very pleased when they discovered that the promised hump at Helsby would involve actually raising part of the platform rather than the usual pre-fabricated ‘Harrington Hump’. No-one in the group knew about the change of plans until work started! Great care was taken with the design and the sandstone facing blends in perfectly with the original design.  We have no idea why Network Rail had a change of heart regarding the installation but are delighted that they did.

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