North Liverpool Extension Line
Encyclopedia
The North Liverpool Extension Line is a now-disused railway line in Liverpool
, England
. The line was to be the eastern section of the Merseyrail
Outer Loop. A line that circled the city.
, branching from the Committee's Liverpool
to Manchester
line at Hunts Cross
in the south of the city, running north skirting the eastern edge of Liverpool, finally arriving at the Walton Triangle junction. One line continued north to Aintree
, another turned west through the Rice Lane to Kirkdale
tunnel towards Liverpool Docks. Running alongside the already existsing LYR line before terminating at Huskisson railway station
just after Sandhills railway station
. A small line left Huskisson retracing the route North before turning towards the river and the Midland Railways Sandon Docks good station. The line opened between 1879 and 1880.
The Aintree branch was extended to Southport
in 1884.
The route closed in stages. In 1960 the line closed to passengers between Aintree and Gateacre
.
In 1972 passenger trains from Liverpool Central High Level
to Gateacre were withdrawn. The Gateacre service was proposed to be reinstated in 1978, with the station being the terminus of the new Merseyrail
Northern Line
. However, this never materialised with the terminus being cut back to Hunts Cross station on the southern Liverpool to Manchester line. The line continued to carry freight being lifted in 1979. The trackbed of the main section of line now forms part of the National Cycle Network
Route 62, the Trans Pennine Trail
.
to Gateacre
continuing north onto Broad Green
, which would then turn west into Liverpool city centre. Parliamentary approval for the plans was obtained in 1975. However, this never materialised.
The line is protected for future use.
.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The line was to be the eastern section of the Merseyrail
Merseyrail
Merseyrail is a train operating company and commuter rail network in the United Kingdom, centred on Liverpool, Merseyside. The network is predominantly electric with diesel trains running on the City Line. Two City Line branches are currently being electrified on the overhead wire AC system with...
Outer Loop. A line that circled the city.
History
The line was built by the Cheshire Lines CommitteeCheshire Lines Committee
The Cheshire Lines Committee was the second largest joint railway in Great Britain, with 143 route miles. Despite its name, approximately 55% of its system was in Lancashire. In its publicity material it was often styled as the Cheshire Lines Railway...
, branching from the Committee's Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
line at Hunts Cross
Hunts Cross
Hunt's Cross is a suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is located on the southern edge of the city, bordered by Woolton, Allerton, Speke and Halewood.-History:...
in the south of the city, running north skirting the eastern edge of Liverpool, finally arriving at the Walton Triangle junction. One line continued north to Aintree
Aintree
Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside. It lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, about north of Liverpool city centre, in North West England....
, another turned west through the Rice Lane to Kirkdale
Kirkdale railway station
Kirkdale railway station is a railway station in Kirkdale, Liverpool, England, located to the north of the city centre on the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network...
tunnel towards Liverpool Docks. Running alongside the already existsing LYR line before terminating at Huskisson railway station
Huskisson railway station
Huskisson railway station was a station located on the North Liverpool Extension Line near Huskisson Dock, Liverpool, England, it opened on July 13, 1880 and closed to passenger traffic on 13 July 1885. The site was within Huskisson Goods railway station and it continued in use as a freight depot...
just after Sandhills railway station
Sandhills railway station
Sandhills railway station is a railway station in Kirkdale, Liverpool, England, located to the north of the city centre on the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network.It was built by the Liverpool, Crosby and Southport Railway Company and now stands at the junction between the branch to Southport...
. A small line left Huskisson retracing the route North before turning towards the river and the Midland Railways Sandon Docks good station. The line opened between 1879 and 1880.
The Aintree branch was extended to Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
in 1884.
The route closed in stages. In 1960 the line closed to passengers between Aintree and Gateacre
Gateacre railway station
Gateacre railway station was a station located on the North Liverpool Extension Line on the north side of Belle Vale Road, Gateacre, Liverpool. It is sometimes reported as Gateacre & Woolton....
.
In 1972 passenger trains from Liverpool Central High Level
Liverpool Central High Level railway station
Liverpool Central High Level opened on 1 March 1874, at the end of the Cheshire Lines Committee line to Manchester Central. It replaced Brunswick as the CLC's Liverpool passenger terminus, becoming the headquarters of the committee....
to Gateacre were withdrawn. The Gateacre service was proposed to be reinstated in 1978, with the station being the terminus of the new Merseyrail
Merseyrail
Merseyrail is a train operating company and commuter rail network in the United Kingdom, centred on Liverpool, Merseyside. The network is predominantly electric with diesel trains running on the City Line. Two City Line branches are currently being electrified on the overhead wire AC system with...
Northern Line
Northern Line (Merseyrail)
The Northern Line is one of the two commuter rail lines operated by Merseyrail in Merseyside, England. The other line is the Wirral Line. A third line of the Merseyrail Network, the City Line, is not owned or operated by Merseyrail, although funded by Merseytravel.The Northern Line passes...
. However, this never materialised with the terminus being cut back to Hunts Cross station on the southern Liverpool to Manchester line. The line continued to carry freight being lifted in 1979. The trackbed of the main section of line now forms part of the National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...
Route 62, the Trans Pennine Trail
Trans Pennine Trail
The Trans Pennine Trail is a long distance path running from coast to coast across northern England entirely on surfaced paths and using only gentle gradients ....
.
Planned Reopening
Proposals existed to reopen and electrify the line and form the eastern section of the Liverpool Outer Loop Merseyrail city circle. This section would run from Hunts CrossHunts Cross railway station
Hunts Cross railway station is a Grade II listed railway station in Hunts Cross, Liverpool, England. It is situated on the southern branch of the City Line's Liverpool to Manchester route, and is the southern terminus of Merseyrail's Northern Line.-History:...
to Gateacre
Gateacre railway station
Gateacre railway station was a station located on the North Liverpool Extension Line on the north side of Belle Vale Road, Gateacre, Liverpool. It is sometimes reported as Gateacre & Woolton....
continuing north onto Broad Green
Broad Green railway station
Broad Green railway station is situated in the Broadgreen district of Liverpool, England. It is the oldest used railway station in the world being a part of the original 1830 Liverpool and Manchester passenger railway....
, which would then turn west into Liverpool city centre. Parliamentary approval for the plans was obtained in 1975. However, this never materialised.
The line is protected for future use.
Route
Main line
- Hunts CrossHunts Cross railway stationHunts Cross railway station is a Grade II listed railway station in Hunts Cross, Liverpool, England. It is situated on the southern branch of the City Line's Liverpool to Manchester route, and is the southern terminus of Merseyrail's Northern Line.-History:...
junction with CLC Liverpool to Manchester line. - GateacreGateacre railway stationGateacre railway station was a station located on the North Liverpool Extension Line on the north side of Belle Vale Road, Gateacre, Liverpool. It is sometimes reported as Gateacre & Woolton....
1 December 1879-15 April 1972. - ChildwallChildwall railway stationChildwall railway station was a station located on the North Liverpool Extension Line at Well Lane, Childwall, Liverpool. It opened on 1 December 1879....
1 December 1879-1 January 1931. - Knotty AshKnotty Ash railway stationKnotty Ash railway station was a station located on the North Liverpool Extension Line to the north of the East Prescot Road, Knotty Ash, Liverpool, England, it opened on 1 December 1879....
1 December 1879-7 November 1960. - West DerbyWest Derby railway stationWest Derby railway station was a station located on the North Liverpool Extension Line to the south of Mill Lane, West Derby, Liverpool, England, it opened on 1 December 1879....
1 December 1879-7 November 1960. - ClubmoorClubmoor railway stationClubmoor railway station was a station located on the North Liverpool Extension Line at Broad Lane, Norris Green, Liverpool, England, it opened on 14 April 1927. This was part of the Cheshire line link from Halewood to Southport...
14 April 1927-7 November 1960. - Fazakerley South Junction.
- Fazakerley West Junction.
- Walton on the HillWalton on the Hill railway stationWalton on the Hill railway station was a station located on the North Liverpool Extension Line at the junction of Rice Lane and Queens Drive in Walton, Liverpool, England. The station opened on 1 December 1879, and closed on 1 January 1918. The through tracks were not lifted until 1980.-External...
WaltonWalton, MerseysideWalton, originally known as Walton-on-the-Hill, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, is an area situated to the north of Anfield and the east of Bootle and Orrell Park. It is largely residential, with a diverse population.-History:...
1 December 1879-1 January 1918. - Walton Tunnel No 41 (240 yd)
- Walton Tunnel No 42 (643 yd)
- Walton Tunnel No 43 (249 yd)
- HuskissonHuskisson railway stationHuskisson railway station was a station located on the North Liverpool Extension Line near Huskisson Dock, Liverpool, England, it opened on July 13, 1880 and closed to passenger traffic on 13 July 1885. The site was within Huskisson Goods railway station and it continued in use as a freight depot...
13 July 1880-1 May 1886.
North branch
- Fazakerley South Junction.
- Fazakerley North Junction.
- Fazakerley Junction with the Midland RailwayMidland RailwayThe Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
's Langton Dock BranchLangton Dock BranchThe Langton Branch was built in 1885 by the Midland Railway. This branch went from the Cheshire Lines Committee's North Liverpool Extension Line at Fazakerley Junction to Langton Goods station, with a spur to North Mersey Goods...
. - WarbreckWarbreck railway stationWarbreck railway station was a station located on the North Liverpool Extension Line to the south of the Walton Vale, Liverpool, England. The station opened on 1 August 1929, and closed on 7 November 1960. The through tracks were not lifted until 1980....
1 August 1929-7 November 1960. - Aintree CentralAintree Central railway stationFor a guide to the various Aintree stations that have existed and their relationship to each other see Aintree Stations.Aintree Central railway station was a station located on the North Liverpool Extension Line on Park Lane, Aintree, Merseyside, across Park Lane from the current Aintree station.It...
AintreeAintreeAintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside. It lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, about north of Liverpool city centre, in North West England....
13 July 1880-7 November 1960. - Southport Junction
- Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension RailwaySouthport & Cheshire Lines Extension RailwayThe Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway is a now-disused railway line in Merseyside, England. It was built by the Cheshire Lines Committee, extending the North Liverpool Extension Line to Southport in 1884. Passenger services ended 7 January 1952 and goods six months later...
Plans
The Cheshire Lines Committee put forward several plans to connect railway lines to Liverpool Docks via the extension. One of these was the Liverpool, St Helens & South Lancashire RailwayLiverpool, St Helens & South Lancashire Railway
Liverpool, St Helens & South Lancashire Railway, was formed in 1889, but no services ran until 1895 and then only freight. Passenger services did not start until 1900. The original intention was to connect to the Cheshire Lines Committee North Liverpool Extension Line at Fazakerley junction, to...
.