Helsby railway station
Helsby | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Location | Vale Royal |
| Managed by | Arriva Trains Wales |
| Platforms | 4 |
| Other information | |
| Station code | HSB |
| History | |
| Opened | 1863 |
Helsby railway station serves the village of Helsby in Cheshire. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]
Adopt-a-Station
The North Cheshire Rail Users Group has adopted this station and regularly ensure the station is clean and tidy. The station has won the "Best Kept Station[2]" six times, and the plaques commending this are fixed to the signal box located on the island platforms, (2 + 3).
Accessibility
There is no disabled access to this trains calling at this station due to the low platforms. All platforms can be reached via a ramp down and over the tracks at the opposite end of the station from the bridge.[3]
Service
The station is on the Chester to Manchester Line between Manchester Piccadilly and Chester. It is operated by Arriva Trains Wales, but is unstaffed[4] requiring passengers to purchase tickets on board the train of the conductor. The nearest station with additional ticketing facilities is Chester. Penalty Fares do not operate here.
Trains generally run in either direction hourly. Many trains towards Chester continue to North Wales destinations, mainly Llandudno (although there are also two trains to Holyhead to connect with the ferry to Dublin).
The station is also the junction of the branch line to Ellesmere Port. This service sees four trains daily in each direction, (Monday - Saturday) - two in the early morning and another pair mid-afternoon. One of these trains continues to Liverpool Lime Street via Warrington Bank Quay. Northern Rail operate this service. (In the picture, the train on the right has arrived from Ellesmere Port). There is no Sunday service on this line.
The Summer Saturday, Chester - Runcorn via the Halton Curve service, operated by Northern passes through Platform 2, however it does not stop, except to do so at the signal.
Trains
As the track surrounding Helsby is not electrified, only diesel propelled engines can operate here. Arriva Trains Wales usually operates class 158 and class 175 DMU trains.
Northern Rail operate British Rail Class 142 Pacer Trains between Helsby and Ellesmere Port. Services continuing to Warrington and Liverpool are usually operated by class 156 DMUs.
Freight Traffic
Occasional freight trains run through Helsby. Trains heading towards Quinn Glass, Elton, and Stanlow Shell Oil Refinery use the Ellesmere Port branch line.
Most freight from the North operates through Helsby usually when heading towards North Wales, and would therefore pass through Chester.
Station Facilities
There is a BT Payphone on Platform 1. Limited seating exists on Platform 1 and 2.[5]
Public Transport Interchange
Helsby has several bus links operated primarily by Arriva North West and GHA Coaches.
Route 21 operates between Chester and Runcorn hourly[5]. (Arriva NW*) (Monday - Sunday)
Route X30 operates between Chester and Warrington hourly[5]. (Arriva NW) (Monday - Saturday)
Route 36 operates between Runcorn and Ellesmere Port via Ince & Elton, again hourly[6]. (GHA Coaches) (Monday - Saturday)
*On Sundays, service 21 is operated on behalf of Cheshire County Council by Halton Buses.
References
External links
- Train times and station information for Helsby railway station from National Rail
| Preceding station |  National Rail
|
Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frodsham | Arriva Trains Wales Chester to Manchester Line |
Chester | ||
| Frodsham | Northern Rail Ellesmere Port to Warrington Rail Line |
Ince and Elton | ||