RMweb Gold big jim Posted July 3, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 3, 2014 good news from the north west http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/halton-curve-104m-upgrade-7366655 be nice for travellers to have an alternative direct route into (and for a very long time) out of liverpool instead of using merseyrail, wonder if it will also bring a traffic increase on the helsby to ellesmere port backwater currently the route is only signalled in the liverpool direction and the crossovers have been lifted at both ends that would allow trains to run towards frodsham from the runcorn direction so they will need re fitting, be interesting to see if they will do away with the manual boxes at the same time though 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phatbob Posted July 4, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 4, 2014 Yes, it's great news and about time too.Well done to everybody at the North Cheshire Rail Users Group (including my old mate John Hobbs) for a successful campaign. Keep up the good work! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted July 4, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 4, 2014 currently the route is only signalled in the liverpool direction and the crossovers have been lifted at both ends that would allow trains to run towards frodsham from the runcorn direction so they will need re fitting, be interesting to see if they will do away with the manual boxes at the same time though That will probably come down to money and timescales, if it's quick then the boxes may get some levers back, if it's two or three years then .. I've seen an old plan for the resignalling between Acton Grange and Chester, this, or an update, might now be back on the table with Mickle / Helsby / Frodsham Jcn and Norton going onto a panel "somewhere" - potentially the North West ROC in Manchester. Halton was always down to go under a Ditton extension but I believe money ran out / was diverted, again this may see the end of Runcorn / Halton Jcn and possibly even Ditton - into the ROC again. No doubt things will become clear in time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TangerineWizards Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 I believe the works won't begin until 2016 but its certainly going to be a big improvement and open up a lot of new destinations. A direct Hooton-Lime Street via the 'Mersey Dee Link' would be excellent as well for linking the Wirral to the Airport and beyond. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve O. Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Hi, more info... http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/microsites/chester_renaissance/a_changing_city/chester_transport_strategy/idoc.ashx?docid=d3f608a1-3cfb-4df8-b50f-ac249ebefd75&version=-1 Cheers, Steve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Any more news on this Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpb56125 Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 This week has seen three engineer trains running, dropping off materials and stone for drainage work, Vegetation has also been cut back in various places. https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains-2015/September-2015/ 156468 has also worked the last booked passenger train of 2015 this morning. Train will still run from next week, but only as an ECS working. Mark https://mark5812.smugmug.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 Might be of interest, Frodsham Junction box taken in October 1973 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpb56125 Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 Been out today to photograph a Railtour and noticed the following. Construction compound has been created next to Frodsham viaduct. New access steps cut into embankment near Frodsham Junction box giving direct access onto branch. Cable troughing stacked up along side the track. Some pictures of the tour at https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains-2017/January-2017/i-4vqPprG/A https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains-2017/January-2017/i-dtZwTM8/A https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains-2017/January-2017/i-XFkZMp6/A Mark https://mark5812.smugmug.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 It's quite interesting (OK, deadly boring, but I noticed it) to see the rusted rails on the shots of the approaching train, and the shiny railhead on the going away shot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
locoholic Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 It's quite interesting (OK, deadly boring, but I noticed it) to see the rusted rails on the shots of the approaching train, and the shiny railhead on the going away shot. I suspect there was quite a bit of that on the railtour. The line from Ditton Junction to Fiddler's Ferry didn't look as if it had been used for ages. It was interesting going down The Hole at Warrington Bank Quay, too. I wonder if anyone got a photo of that! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpb56125 Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 Major track work has started this week. Some pictures on the links below. https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains-2018/March-2018/i-gVs5SQT/A https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains-2018/March-2018/i-tjgQz8C/A https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains-2018/March-2018/i-dnnNn7p/A https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains-2018/March-2018/i-VXtmPtC/A https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains-2018/March-2018/i-9LNcDFj https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains-2018/March-2018/i-234gHXh/A Mark https://mark5812.smugmug.com/ 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted March 23, 2018 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 23, 2018 4 years after starting this thread and it looks like work has begun in earnest on the chord itself! i see the rail i dropped there back in october is still in situ too (on the pic leading into the tunnel) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted March 31, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 31, 2018 Thanks to John on FB : The facing crossover at Halton Junction is being laid in position this weekend so another step taken towards service (re) introduction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpb56125 Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 TFW ran 2 test trains today between Chester and Liverpool Lime Street with 175004. Once they managed to get cover for Frodsham Junction box as it's normally switched out on Sundays until the full passenger service starts Mark https://www.mark5812.smugmug.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpb56125 Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Another driver training run today over the Halton Curve with 175005. Once they got Frodsham Junction box opened again. This time it only went to Widnes (Alstom) Depot at Ditton. https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains-2019/January-2019/i-VkzFKSr/A https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains-2019/January-2019/i-qtjT6TP/A Mark https://mark5812.smugmug.com 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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