History Halton Curve

a 1914 railway clearing house junction diagram showing (left) halton curve between frodsham , runcorn

the halton curve built london , north western railway. created connection line chester frodsham built birkenhead joint railway partnership. double-tracked branch built link mineral industries of north east wales commercial , industrial areas of south lancashire. passengers services run between chester, runcorn , liverpool lime street. 1960s services using line had diminished. in 1970s, track abandoned when m56 motorway built because route cut through line. however, concrete , steel bowstring arch truss bridge built keep curve open.

on 5 may 1975 local passenger service withdrawn line. during 1980s , 1990s, line used scheduled summer saturdays-only return service between liverpool lime street , llandudno. ended when double track reduced single line in 1994 following privatisation of british rail. @ same time, associated double points , diamond crossings southbound trains removed both junctions. northbound trains (frodsham → runcorn) left able use line; re-classed single-line working. railtrack s decision based on reducing maintenance costs and, removing crossings , points on west coast mainline, increase through-train speeds between liverpool lime street , crewe.

to avoid expense , inconvenience of statutory closure process of halton curve, morning parliamentary train run in summer months every saturday. other services include occasional freight, engineers trains , charter specials (that did not require going via crewe). traffic between liverpool & crewe diverted via halton curve when main line via winsford closed engineering work. royal train has used branch line when queen has visited liverpool.

network rail took on ownership , management of curve in 2002. maximum speed on line 40 mph (64 km/h). traffic using frodsham junction limited 20 mph (32 km/h). same speed limit applied trains rejoining 90 mph (140 km/h) west coast mainline near runcorn. signalboxes @ frodsham , runcorn continue control junctions @ respective ends of curve.

parliamentary train

the timetabled service on line summer-only parliamentary train: 07:53 chester runcorn (2f80) operated northern rail. service, non-stop between chester , runcorn, on saturdays during summer until september. used class 150 or class 156 two-carriage diesel multiple unit.

due rarity of rail traffic using halton curve, parliamentary train became popular service among local people , railway enthusiasts.

cite error: there <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on page, references not show without {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see page).