The Halton Curve is to be reinstated thanks to a £10.4m upgrade, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced today  (July 3).

The railway line’s multi-million pound restoration is one of the measures in a £34.4m package to support Liverpool’s transport and science infrastructure, unveiled as part of the Atlantic Gateway project.

The route, which runs between Frodsham Junction and Halton Junction, has been closed to regular passenger services since the 1970s.

Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans, who has urged the Government to back its redevelopment, said: “I am very pleased that the Halton Curve is  to be redeveloped to provide the people of Frodsham, Helsby and Runcorn with a direct rail connection.

“I have been campaigning strongly for this vital rail link for a number of years and my petition has attracted hundreds of constituents’ support.

“I have been working closely with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Department for Transport, Merseytravel, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Halton Council and the North Cheshire Rail Users Group on this very important transport  link.

“The Halton Curve will connect Halton, Cheshire, and North Wales together to provide a huge boost to the local economy and will make Weaver Vale an even better place to live, work and invest.”

Mr Evans held a meeting with Minister of State for Transport Stephen Hammond, Mick Noone of Halton Borough Council, Frank Rogers of  Merseytravel and Chris Hindle of Cheshire West and Chester Council to discuss the Halton Curve just last  week.

Iain Whitley, from the North Cheshire Rail Users Group, said they were ‘bursting with pride’ following the announcement.

“Obviously this is fantastic news for everyone, including the rail users group. The sole reason the group was  set up was to save this stretch of line from closing and during that time we have constantly kept the line in the public eye.

“The success of special trains organised to celebrate Helsby Junction’s 150th anniversary did more to highlight the need to reinstate this connection last year.

“We are bursting with pride this morning at the North Cheshire Rail Users Group. This will not only mean improved services to Liverpool from Helsby, but it will also mean improved services to North Wales from Liverpool.

“The benefits of reinstating this small mile-long section of line will be phenomenal. It is going to make getting about by rail so much easier in the North West.”

Cllr Lynda Jones, executive member for growth and innovation at Cheshire West and Chester Council, described the upgrade as an 'excellent example of collaborative working'.

"I can't explain how pleased I am. It's fantastic news for the borough," she said. We have been working on this for a long time with our partners.

"It will help open up areas and create opportunities for the local economy."

Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which has supported the need to re-establish the rail link ever since the idea was first proposed more than 10 years ago, has also welcomed the news.

Robin Tudor, the airport’s head of PR, said: “This is tremendous news for the airport and has been a project we have supported and been pursuing for many, many years.

“This scheme will now mean that communities in North West Cheshire – many of whom live close enough that they can see the airport from across the other side of the Mersey estuary, along with passengers right across North Wales, will once again have direct rail access to Liverpool and the Airport via Liverpool South Parkway rail station.”