Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Sign up now! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Work has started on the 1.5 miles of rail track - known as the ‘Halton Curve’ - that will unlock leisure and business opportunities between Liverpool, its airport, Cheshire and North Wales.

The Halton Curve scheme, delivered by Network Rail, is bringing back into full use the section of the line that links the Chester/Warrington line and the Liverpool/Crewe line at Frodsham Junction.

Vital upgrades to track and signalling on the curve will enable a new hourly service, in both directions, between Liverpool and Chester - starting in December 2018.

There are plans to then extend the service into North Wales – something currently being considered as part of the forthcoming Wales and Borders franchise.

As journeys between the Liverpool City Region, West Cheshire and North Wales are currently largely car dependent, it’s expected that the new service would remove the need for 170,000 road journeys helping reduce demand on key routes such as the M56 and A55.

This project, due to cost a maximum £18.75m, is being funded through the Government’s Growth Deal and the Liverpool City Region.

It is being developed by the Liverpool City Region (including Halton Council), Cheshire West and Cheshire Council, the Welsh Government and a consortium of the six county authorities in North Wales.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said: “This is a significant milestone on the way to making travel between north-west England and North Wales much easier and I am delighted that the UK Government has been able to help make it happen.

"When completed, the line will improve links between Liverpool and North Wales, providing benefits for businesses, commuters and tourists, and unlocking the potential for economic growth in North Wales.

“This is part of a £340m investment in the City Region’s rail network by the end of 2019 that will improve connections and the capacity – investment that only marks the start of our ambitions.”

Councillor Samantha Dixon, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council and Chair of the cross-border Growth Track 360 rail taskforce, said: “The Halton Curve is a central proposition in the Growth Track 360 rail investment prospectus.

"This is one of the critical investments which will have a transformational effect on rail services, not only in our borough but across North Wales and the Mersey-Dee region. It will improve links to Liverpool for our residents and businesses.”

Welsh Government Economy and Infrastructure Secretary, Ken Skates said: "This is a huge development for public transport and much welcomed. Improving rail connectivity between North Wales and Liverpool offers huge economic and social opportunities for both regions.

“There has always been a strong cultural link between the regions and the Investment in Halton Curve will only serve to strengthen this. I look forward to delivering further joint transport initiatives with the Liverpool City Region, particularly as we develop our North East Wales Metro vision for a truly integrated transport system for the area.”

Robin Tudor, Head of PR and Communications for Liverpool John Lennon Airport, said: "This is a project that the Airport has supported and been pursuing for many years and it is great to see work finally get underway.

"This scheme will soon mean that airport users in North West Cheshire along with future passengers from right across North Wales,will have the opportunity to access the Airport with its growing range of services by rail via Liverpool South Parkway rail station."