Hooton–Helsby line

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Timings are from Ellesmere Port |}

The Ellesmere Port to Warrington Line operates between the towns of Ellesmere Port and Warrington in the north-west of England.

The line previously used to operate from Hooton to Helsby. This service was relatively frequent, operating via Ellesmere Port. It is currently withdrawn. Station signs at Ince and Elton railway station and Stanlow & Thornton currently still display 'Trains to Hooton- this Platform'.

A Class 142 Pacer train terminates at Ellesmere Port from Helsby.

Route

The route follows the London and North Western Railway Ellesmere Port branch with stations at Stanlow and Thornton and Ince and Elton to the village and junction station at Helsby where it joins the Chester to Manchester Line through to Warrington Bank Quay railway station.

Services

Northern Rail currently, (April 2008), operates a Department for Transport set minimum service of four trains daily in each direction between Ellesmere Port and Helsby of which two trains each way run to and from Warrington, one continues further to Liverpool Lime Street. This is known as a Parliamentary train Service.

The reason why these services are run at all is because rail transport is heavily regulated in the United Kingdom and it is therefore considerably cheaper for a train operating company to run a parliamentary service than it is to go through the full legal process of applying for a station and/or line to be permanently closed.

Future

Quinn Glass is located in Elton, and is currently undergoing expansion near the Ince & Elton railway station. Network Rail Route Strategy states that Quinn Glass is interested in additional passenger and freight services on this line. It is also thought that planning permission requires Quinn Glass to maximise upon exisiting public transport links..