Owner Network Rail | ||
 | ||
Locale Liverpool
Crewe
Merseyside
Cheshire
North West England Operator(s) East Midlands Trains
London Midland
Northern
TransPennine Express
Virgin Trains Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
The Crewe–Liverpool line is a railway line in North West England, running from Crewe on the West Coast Main Line to Liverpool Lime Street via Weaver Junction.
Contents
History
The line was built in stages by the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway and the London and North Western Railway during the mid-19th century. The route became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923, passing to the London Midland Region of British Railways in 1948.
Electrification
The line was electrified at 25 kV AC, using overhead wires under the BR 1955 Modernisation Plan. In 1959, preparations began at Liverpool Lime Street for the first stage of electrification of the West Coast Main Line. On 1 January 1962, electric services between Liverpool Lime Street and Crewe officially began.
Weaver Junction to Liverpool signalling
Re-signalling work from Liverpool to Weaver Junction was underway in 2016. Signal control will move to the Manchester rail operating centre removing five local signal boxes. The signal improvements will improve journey times on this section of track.
Services
Services along the full length of the line are operated by London Midland and Virgin Trains, with East Midlands Trains, TransPennine Express and Northern operating between Liverpool South Parkway and Lime Street, a section which is shared by the Liverpool–Manchester lines.