The long-awaited £10.4m reinstatement of the Halton Curve could be a reality by May 2018, say two transport ministers.
The date was provided by parliamentary under-secretaries Robert Goodwill and Claire Perry when asked about the progress of the upgrade to the rail line - which runs between Frodsham Junction and Halton Junction - by Halton MP Derek Twigg on March 7 and Weaver Wale MP Graham Evans on March 10.
Chanceller Of The Exchequer George Osborne announced the funding for the project in July 2014 as part of the Government's Local Growth Fund.
The route, a single line track, has been closed to regular passenger services since 1975.
In a written answer to Mr Twigg, Mr Goodwill said Merseytravel is managing the Halton Curve scheme on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and that the business case is due to be considered in April.
He said that if approved, the work will begin in June 2017.
Mrs Perry agreed to Mr Evans’s request to meet him and members of the ‘Merseyside local enterprise partnership’ to discuss the ‘vital link’.
