As the countdown to the new Halton Curve service begins I am just wondering what services ran on the Halton Curve in the past, what were the timings and the calling patterns I have read their was a regular service on the Halton Curve until the May 1975 timetable change how frequent was this, what was the calling pattern and destination - was it Liverpool LS - Chester? And after the change in 1975 I know their was a summer Saturday seasonal service Liverpool - Llandudno service - what was the calling pattern for this and how frequent was it - was it 1 return service on a Saturday? If anyone knows any timetables that will be appreciated. Did regular passenger services (everyday) end in 75 or was it earlier than that?
Regards,
Luke
I've got a winter 1958/59 LMR timetable, and it shows 12 trains via the Halton Curve, erratically spread through the day.
Mostly these are all-stations locals, several coming from Hooton/Birkenhead Woodside via Ellesmere Port (ie not from Chester).
There was a Llandudno-Liverpool in the morning peak, back to Holyhead in the evening.
Best journey time I can see is 56 minutes for a train not stopping between Runcorn and Liverpool, but usually 65-70 minutes.
A couple of overnight trains, probably mail/boat train portions.
Very thin on Sundays. Several extra trains to North Wales on summer Saturdays, places like Llandudno and Penychain (Butlin's, Pwllheli).
This was in steam days.
Diesels on local services started around 1961, but were rapidly thinned out from 1964 or so, as the suburban DMUs were instead sent on long regional services to replace steam stock (eg Manchester-North Wales).