Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway

Last updated

Southport and Cheshire
Lines Extension Railway
Overview
Locale Lancashire
Merseyside
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Route map

Contents

BSicon exCONTg.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon CONTg.svg
BSicon xSTR+c2.svg
BSicon HST3.svg
BSicon STRc2.svg
BSicon xKRZ3+1u.svg
BSicon STRc4.svg
BSicon STR+1.svg
BSicon STRc4.svg
BSicon exBHF.svg
Aintree Central
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Aintree
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Old Roan
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BSicon CONTf@F.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon exHST.svg
Sefton and Maghull
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Lydiate
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Altcar and Hillhouse
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BSicon exKRW+l.svg
BSicon exlHST~R.svg
BSicon exKRWgr.svg
Barton
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BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon exHST.svg
BSicon CONTg.svg
Mossbridge
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Freshfield
BSicon STRc2.svg
BSicon exHST.svg
BSicon STR3.svg
Woodvale
BSicon STRc2.svg
BSicon xKRZ3+1o.svg
BSicon STRc4.svg
BSicon HST+1.svg
BSicon xSTR+c4.svg
Ainsdale
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BSicon exHST.svg
Ainsdale Beach
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Birkdale Palace
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Southport Lord Street

The Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway was an early British railway company operating in the then county of Lancashire. It was constructed to link the Cheshire Lines Committee railway at Aintree to Southport. It operated from 1884 to 1952.

History

Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway Act 1881
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837).svg
Citation 44 & 45 Vict. c. cxciii
Dates
Royal assent 11 August 1881
Text of statute as originally enacted
Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway Act 1882
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837).svg
Citation 45 & 46 Vict. c. cclxi
Dates
Royal assent 18 August 1882
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway was authorised by two acts of Parliament, the Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway Act 1881 (44 & 45 Vict. c. cxciii) of 11 August 1881 and the Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway Act 1882 (45 & 46 Vict. c. cclxi) of 18 August 1882, the first authorising the line as far as Birkdale and the second the remaining section to Southport Lord Street. [1] It was promoted by the Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC) and was a natural extension of their North Liverpool Extension Line to Southport. [2] [3]

Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway Act 1885
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837).svg
Long title An Act to empower the Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway Company to raise further Money; to confirm Agreements with reference to the working of their Railway by the Cheshire Lines Committee; and for other purposes.
Citation 48 & 49 Vict. c. liii
Dates
Royal assent 25 June 1885
Text of statute as originally enacted
Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway Act 1889
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837).svg
Citation 52 & 53 Vict. c. lxx
Dates
Royal assent 9 July 1889
Text of statute as originally enacted
Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway Act 1892
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837).svg
Long title An Act to confer further powers on the Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway Company and for other purposes.
Citation 55 & 56 Vict. c. xcv
Dates
Royal assent 20 June 1892
Text of statute as originally enacted

The 14 miles 3 chains (22.6 km) line was built as a double track railway opening on 1 September 1884. The line was worked by the CLC under arrangements made in its acts of Parliament, these acts were ratified and amended by the Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. lxx) to allow working with other companies. [4]

The railway remained independent until nationalisation in 1948. [4]

Route

Closure

Passenger services ended 7 January 1952 and goods six months later. [4] The line remained in intermittent use from Aintree to Altcar and Hillhouse to provide access to private sidings until May 1960, when the line was finally lifted.

The route today

The trackbed forms part of National Cycle Network Route 62, the Trans Pennine Trail. From Woodvale northwards the trail is joined by the Southport Coastal Road.

In January 2019, the Campaign for Better Transport released a report identifying the line which was listed as Priority 2 for reopening. Priority 2 is for those lines which require further development or a change in circumstances (such as housing developments). [5]

The Trans-Pennine Trail at Maghull The Trans-Pennine Trail at Maghull - geograph.org.uk - 531080.jpg
The Trans-Pennine Trail at Maghull
Cycle Path Into the wilderness - geograph.org.uk - 81407.jpg
Cycle Path
Trans-Pennine Trail Trans-Pennine Trail - geograph.org.uk - 829849.jpg
Trans-Pennine Trail
Cheshire Lines path, near Lydiate Cheshire Lines path, near Lydiate - geograph.org.uk - 1411677.jpg
Cheshire Lines path, near Lydiate
Cheshire Lines Cycle-way Cheshire Lines Cycle-way - geograph.org.uk - 114549.jpg
Cheshire Lines Cycle-way

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southport Lord Street railway station</span> Former railway station in Southport, England

Southport Lord Street was a railway station located on Lord Street, Southport, Merseyside, England. It was the terminus of the Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway from Liverpool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birkdale Palace railway station</span> Disused railway station in Birkdale, Merseyside

Birkdale Palace railway station was located in Birkdale, Lancashire, England. The station was opened by the Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway in 1884 and closed in 1952.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ainsdale Beach railway station</span> Former railway station in Merseyside, England

Ainsdale Beach was a railway station located in Ainsdale, Merseyside, England.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altcar and Hillhouse railway station</span> Disused railway station in Great Altcar, Lancashire

Altcar and Hillhouse was a railway station located on the Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway near Great Altcar, Lancashire, England.

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Lydiate railway station was a station located on the Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway off Carr Lane, just outside Lydiate. The Merseyside and Lancashire border runs down the stream alongside Altcar Lane, which runs parallel to the line.

Sefton and Maghull railway station was a station located on the Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway on Sefton Lane, Maghull, Merseyside, England.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broadheath (Altrincham) railway station</span>

Broadheath (Altrincham) railway station served Broadheath and the northern part of Altrincham in Cheshire, England, between its opening in 1853 and closure in 1962.

References

Footnotes
  1. Griffiths & Goode 1978, pp. 17 & 53.
  2. Bolger 1984, pp. 5–9.
  3. Dow 1962, pp. 140–2.
  4. 1 2 3 Awdry 1990, p. 238.
  5. p.42
Sources