25.09.18
£18.75m Halton Curve project delayed a further six months
The launch of an upgraded rail line connecting Chester and Liverpool has been delayed until May, with one local MP claiming that the pushback is a result of a lack of trains for the project.
The Halton Curve project, worth £18.75m, was due to open in December this year after being originally expected to open by 2018, however now the upgraded line will now open in May 2019.
Labour MP for Weaver Vale Mike Amesbury yesterday called on transport secretary Chris Grayling to intervene in the project, claiming that the Department for Transport “failed” in its supplying of rolling stock for the project.
He said: “The combined authority delivered the infrastructure on time, it held up its part of the bargain, but the DfT have failed on rolling stock, it’s unacceptable.
“This is just the latest in a long list of failures by the department on Mr Grayling’s watch, from constant delays to the absolute turmoil caused by Northern Rail’s disastrous timetabling debacle. These delays are putting livelihoods on the line in my constituency and it is quite simply not good enough.”
Amesbury added that he has now met with transport bosses and has written to Grayling to come to a solution on the issue.
The line will provide services connecting Liverpool to Chester through Runcorn in a bid to improve connectivity to north Wales and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
A spokesperson for Network Rail, who provided the line upgrade to the project, said: “The Halton Curve upgrade, part of the Great North Rail Project, was completed as planned in May this year. This included extensive upgrades to track and signalling meaning that the line was able to operate a new hourly service, in both directions, between Liverpool and Chester, which wasn’t possible before.”
Transport for Wales, who awarded the Wales and Borders franchise to KeolisAmey in May, confirmed the delay of rolling stock to use the route— however they noted that the pushback by six months will allow them to introduce a new station to the project.
RTM has reached out to Transport for Wales for further comment.
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Image credit: Network Rail