Road, Rail & Access Issues

[Jerry]

I've mostly only seen them down by Luton. I didn't know they were in other parts of the country as well.

 

[lfc84]

easy group operate a number of brands of which easybus is one. easy group is owned by stellios.

easyjet operate under a brand license but stellios has no control of the company

 

[Silvercity]

I've mostly only seen them down by Luton. I didn't know they were in other parts of the country as well.

There is one that goes Wrexham to Manchester via Chester....friend of mine has used it and said was pretty good.

 

[Silvercity]

According to the Easybus website Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Wrexham as well as Chester are shown as destinations from Liverpool ( When it starts) I think it will likely be the same bus then follow the A483 south.

 

[Silvercity]

New bus service to Liverpool airport
By Lucy Todman | Shrewsbury | News | Published: Mar 22, 2018

Holidaymakers will be able to set off on their breaks the easy way thanks to a Shropshire-based coach company.

4SHARESeasyBus.com



Read more at https://www.shropshirestar.com/news...ice-to-liverpool-airport/#v7BFrA4oeDyYKe1b.99

 

[Silvercity]

The track upgrade work on The Halton curve was completed over Easter. This is a short but an important piece of track that will allow passengers from Chester and North Wales reach Liverpool Airport ( by way of South Parkway Station ) much easier than in the past. A new service over this line begins in December.

The upgrades are part of a project to enable new train services between Liverpool Lime Street and Chester.
We are upgrading the Halton Curve, a 1.5-mile section of track that links the Chester/Warrington line and the Liverpool/Crewe line at Frodsham Junction, to help provide new services on the route.

The existing line currently only runs a one-way passenger service once a week in the summer. When the Halton Curve upgrade work is finished, there will be an hourly service in each direction from December 2018 – with the potential for connections to North Wales in the future. The service is expected to generate 250,000 new trips and a £100m boost to the economy.

This will also unlock business and leisure opportunities between the Liverpool City Region, its airport, Cheshire and North Wales.

Liverpool City Region upgrade programme

London North Western route, so were two Dynamic Track Stabilising tampers.

Our engineering fleet

May and Spring bank holiday work
More work is set to take place during the early and Spring May bank holidays, to complete the resignalling of Halton Junction control, installation of overhead line equipment and commissioning of the Halton Curve.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

How far is South Parkway station from the airport and what is the means of transport between the two?

 

[Silvercity]

How far is South Parkway station from the airport and what is the means of transport between the two?

There is a dedicated but link to the airport, plus buses elsewhere too. Id say it takes about 10 mins. You can buy a through train ticket to the airport which includes the bus transfer.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Many thanks.

 

[Aviador]

Liverpool Airport is reporting potential for travel disruption due to rail strikes.

Rail Strikes - Wednesday 9th May 2018: Industrial Action planned by guard members of the RMT Union on Wednesday 9th May 2018 which will affect certain Merseyrail & Northern operations. Any customers who use these services to/from the Airport, should consider alternative travel arrangements.​

 

[Silvercity]

Liverpool Airport is reporting potential for travel disruption due to rail strikes.

Rail Strikes - Wednesday 9th May 2018: Industrial Action planned by guard members of the RMT Union on Wednesday 9th May 2018 which will affect certain Merseyrail & Northern operations. Any customers who use these services to/from the Airport, should consider alternative travel arrangements.​

I don't think there is any strike on Merseyrail today , there is on Northern this will affect some services through Liverpool South Parkway, other operators including Merseyrail seem ok.

 

[Aviador]

easyBus are delighted to announce the launch of our new bus service to Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA).

This new bus service will connect the Airport directly with Chester, Wrexham, Oswestry, and Shrewsbury.

From Monday 14th May there will be 16 departures each day and seats start from just £4.99 one-way. The earlier passengers book, the more they save.

This new route is a welcome addition to easyBus’ existing service to Manchester Airport which has been successfully operating for nearly 18 months.

Owner, Businessman Andrew Martin, says "Until now there have been no public transport links to Liverpool John Lennon Airport from West Cheshire and North Wales, so we are delighted to launch our new easyBus service to Liverpool John Lennon Airport from Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Wrexham, & Chester, providing a simple, low cost way to access the Airport and help keep passenger’s holiday costs down.

“We have been already operating a successful service to Manchester Airport for the last 18 months so our new service to Liverpool Airport is a natural progression. Good bus links to airports are vital for both leisure and business travellers and we are pleased to be providing this service to the community".

Robin Tudor, Head of PR for Liverpool John Lennon Airport added, "Thousands of passengers travel to Liverpool John Lennon Airport each year from areas served by this new bus service which will now give travellers an attractive alternative to the car or taxi. Likewise tourists wanting to visit Chester can now fly to Liverpool knowing there is direct, easy, onward access from right outside the Airport terminal."

easyBus Airport Transfers are provided in distinctive branded, comfortable minibuses and are available to everyone, whoever you fly with.

Bookings can be made on the website now at www.easyBus.com

 

[Aviador]

Liverpool Airport is reporting lane closures close to the airport.

"Approach Road Lane Closure, 23rd May 2018: We have been notified that Speke Hall Approach Lane will be reduced to 2 lanes on 23rd May 2018 from 09.00 hours until 12:00 hours due to Agricultural works. The exit route from the Airport will also have a lane closure during this time"​

 

[Silvercity]

The Halton Curve upgrade was completed over the last bank holiday weekend. The new services from Chester and North Wales over this section will begin in December and will include a stop at South Parkway for airport passengers .


Network Rail complete Halton Curve upgrade work ahead of new services this December
By
Michael Holden
-
1st June 2018
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Credit: MerseyRail
MerseyRail has announced that the final phase of the upgrade on ‘Halton Curve’ near Frodsham was completed over the Bank Holiday Weekend as planned.

This now allows the Train Operating Company to prepare to begin regular passenger train services later in 2018.

Network Rail completed the work on schedule and within the initial budget set.

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The vital track work brings back full use of the section of the line that links the Chester to Warrington line with the Liverpool to Crewe line at Frodsham Junction. This will enable a new hourly service from December 2018 between Liverpool and Chester serving Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool South Parkway (for Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Runcorn, Frodsham and Helsby. It is hoped that in the future that the train services can be expanded into North Wales.

The Frodsham Control Area has been re-signalled and the signal box now has a new modern signalling panel to control train movements in the area. The signalling in Halton area has been transferred to the Manchester Rail Operating Centre.

The Halton Curve Project has cost £18.75 million and has been funded through the Government’s Local Growth Fund and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The project is part of a £340m investment in the Liverpool City Region and sits with the Great North Rail Project.

The new hourly service will be operated by KeolisAmey Cymru, who take over the Wales and Borders Franchise from December this year. It will generate 250,000 new trips and will unlock business and leisure opportunities between Liverpool, Cheshire and North Wales.

What did the officials say?
Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Metro Mayor, said:

“The Halton Curve is one of many ambitious rail schemes across the Liverpool City Region being delivered by the Combined Authority this year, in this case thanks to a significant investment from the Government’s Local Growth Fund towards the £18.75m cost.
“Increased capacity and more frequent trains between Liverpool and Chester, with a potential to expand into North Wales, will mean more people can travel more easily – unlocking many more opportunities, including the potential for people in our city region to find jobs in Cheshire and North Wales.”

Cllr Liam Robinson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Portfolio Holder, said:

“It’s great news that the Halton Curve scheme has been completed both on schedule and within budget and we can’t wait for services to start running later this year.
“While it may only be a one and a half miles long piece of track, it is the key to unlocking so many more opportunities for people in our City Region, Cheshire and North Wales.
“This is part of a £340m investment in the City Region’s rail network by the end of 2019 that will improve connections and the capacity – investment that only marks the start of our ambitions, with further schemes in Maghull and Newton-le-Willows due for completion in the near future.”

Ken Skates, Welsh Government Transport Secretary, said:

“Improved rail connectivity between North Wales and Liverpool will create significant economic and social opportunities for passengers and businesses. Today’s announcement is a major step towards delivering these improvements.

“We will continue to work closely with our cross-border partners including Merseytravel to maximise the opportunities and benefits that will arise from the new Wales and Borders franchise and make it easier for people to commute between the regions.”

Martin Frobisher, Network Rail’s London North Western route managing director, said:

“The Halton Curve project has been the perfect example of the rail industry and Liverpool City Region working together to deliver real benefits to the people of Liverpool and beyond.
“Improved rail links are vital to boost the local economy, and it is expected that this key upgrade in the Liverpool City Region will boost the economy by £100m.

“Our teams have worked tirelessly since July 2017 to deliver this work ready for the new timetable in December. This is another fantastic example of our Great North Rail Project delivering for customers across the north.”

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[Silvercity]

Report in Liverpool Echo about improving rail access to airport, its quite a long article, so just copied a section of it. Its good to hear this project is being talked about, although its acknowledged it will not be a quick fix. I do think we do talk a lot in this country about projects. This would take a long time to construct, so get on with it is my thoughts !!

that it would be absolutely "transformational" to have a direct link to LJLA to make it even easier for passengers and workers to access. But he acknowledged that it would take a long time to happen.

It would be a tricky project to build, and an expensive one too. The airport would need to grow further for that to happen - and that, as shown by the row this week over the future of Oglet shore, could be a challenge in itself.

But it is on Merseytravel's agenda, and talks have taken place. So we thought we'd take a look at how likely an airport line is to come to fruition.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport's chief executive John Irving
Station could fuel airport's growth plans
LJLA's passenger numbers are now back over 5m for the first time in seven years. And airport bosses hope to build on that to attract millions more passengers.

Its long-term strategy, revealed earlier this year, shows the airport would like to grow passenger numbers to 7.8m by 2030 and then to 11m by 2050.

For that to happen the airport would need some £100m of investment in facilities, perhaps including a runway extension.

How Liverpool airport could look in 2030 - from the masterplan Liverpool John Lennon Airport - Our Journey to 2030
For LJLA chief executive John Irving, a direct rail link would be hugely helpful - though that's not something the airport could do alone.

He said a direct rail link to the airport would be "absolutely transformational for us, for the region."

He said: “We’ve got an amazing station a couple of miles up the road. But it’s a couple of miles up the road.

Plan to expand Liverpool John Lennon Airport with extended terminal and runway
"In my previous life (Newcastle Airport) they had a direct link in and it made a huge difference, not just for passengers by the way, but for staff. If someone could work out how we do it (an LJLA station) and how it’s funded, it would make a massive difference."

Mr Irving said "positive" talks were happening.

He added: “What I’ve found is the regional players, be it the Combined Authority or Merseytravel, they all get it... it’s just trying to map out how it works.”

The Newcastle Metro being extended to the city's airport in 1991 (Image: HANDOUT)
Merseytravel would like a station - but it's not simple
Merseytravel chair Cllr Liam Robinson also likes the idea of an airport station. But he stresses that it's not a simple project.

"It is referenced in our long-term rail strategy," he said. "It's something that in the fullness of time we'd like to see happen.

Latest edition of the Business Post magazine is out now - including Liverpool airport boss interview
"It's not straightforward. Building new railways costs a lot of money. Then there are the engineering challenges of how you get your track there - there's a variety of ways that could be done.

"We have done some work on this in the past but there would be a lot of detailed planning to be done before we could start sinking steel into the ground. It's a not insignificant project."

 

[Aviador]

I think it's possibly an ambitious large transport project like this that is needed to take the airport further. Is there an appetite for a direct rail link locally?

 

[Silvercity]

I think it's possibly an ambitious large transport project like this that is needed to take the airport further. Is there an appetite for a direct rail link locally?

I think there is, but of course its down to cash, and we aren't in London !

There are a few options , extension of the Merseyrail from Hunts Cross into the airport, with an intermediate station in Speke, this is area with pretty poor transport links so there's an additional benefit by going that way. The line would need tunnelling, but that's nothing new for Merseyrail which is underground in the city centre. Or a spur from the mainline east of the airport, this would be easier, but probably wouldn't help transport issues for Speke.

 

[paully]

It would be a boon to get a direct link into the airport, without a doubt. Although we have used Southparkway, many times and find it an excellent station and once you know how, getting down to the terminal and/or the hotels is a doddle...One thing that is expensive there are the buses...cheaper to use the local taxis tbh and certainly if there is more than 2

 

[Silvercity]

It would be a boon to get a direct link into the airport, without a doubt. Although we have used Southparkway, many times and find it an excellent station and once you know how, getting down to the terminal and/or the hotels is a doddle...One thing that is expensive there are the buses...cheaper to use the local taxis tbh and certainly if there is more than 2

Did you know you can book your rail ticket to the airport itself...I think you tap in Liverpool John Lennon, and then you can do a through rail ticket including the bus, I think it works out cheaper.

 

[Silvercity]

The new rail route is ready to go from North Wales and Chester to Liverpool via Runcorn and Liverpool South Parkway ( which serves the airport ). The service was due to start in December but guess what the operator doesn't have enough trains ( couldn't make it up really ) so it's now May 19 !!!