Hunts Cross railway station

Originally built by the Cheshire Lines Committee, Hunts Cross was a junction at the southern end of the North Liverpool Extension Line to Gateacre, West Derby, north Liverpool docks and Southport. This line was closed in stages from 1952 to 1972 and is now part of National Cycle Network Route 62, the Trans Pennine Trail. The closure of the North Liverpool route left Hunts Cross to be served by the local service from Liverpool Lime Street to Warrington and Manchester.

In 1983 Merseyrail's electrified Northern Line from Liverpool Central was extended to Hunts Cross from its previous terminus at Garston. One of the former Gateacre line platforms was reinstated as a bay platform for terminating electric services. Northern Line trains originally ran through to Kirkby, but in 1984 the timetable was altered and trains continued to Southport instead.

When the Merseyrail service was introduced, the service from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester was cut back to terminate at Hunts Cross. Passengers from Manchester wishing to continue to Liverpool had to change to a Merseyrail train. This arrangement was short-lived and ended in 1989 when the through trains to Lime Street were restored.

From 11 June 2006, the number of Manchester-bound trains stopping at Hunts Cross was reduced from two trains per hour to one. However, during morning and evening peaks the half-hourly frequency is still maintained.

From 11 December 2006, the Monday-Saturday evening Northern Line service was increased to run every 15 minutes. Previously, services had reduced to a half-hourly frequency after 7.30pm.

[edit] Current services

Northern Rail unit 142031 in Platform 2 on a Manchester Oxford Road service.

Hunts Cross is primarily served by Northern Rail services on the City Line between Liverpool Lime Street and Warrington Central and Manchester Oxford Road (one train per hour with additional services during peak hours), and Merseyrail Northern Line services from Southport via Liverpool Central (every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday, reducing to half-hourly on Sundays).

In addition, some peak-hour services operated by Central Trains and TransPennine Express additionally stop here between Liverpool, Manchester and beyond.

Hunts Cross station currently has three operational platforms:

Northern Rail services bound for Liverpool Lime Street (Merseyrail City Line).
Northern Rail services bound for Warrington Central and Manchester Oxford Road (Merseyrail City Line).
Merseyrail services bound for Liverpool Central and Southport (Merseyrail Northern Line).

The track serving platform 2 is also electrified and can be used by Merseyrail EMUs if the usual platform is blocked. This facility is used rarely, as any terminating train in this platform will block the through line towards Manchester, with potential delays to other services.

[edit] Layout

The station is in a cutting and is reached by stepped ramps from the ticket office. A building on the Southport/Manchester-bound (island) platform('s 2&3) contains a disabled toilet, a snack shop and waiting room. The former main station building has been converted into a bar/restaurant and has been replaced by a modern ticket office. A small car park is available, and bus stops are nearby.

[edit] External links

Train times and station information for Hunts Cross railway station from National Rail
Street map and aerial photo of Hunts Cross railway station from Multimap.com

Station information from Merseyrail

Preceding station		Following station
Liverpool South Parkway	Merseyrail Northern Line	Terminates
Halewood	Northern Rail Liverpool to Manchester Line (Southern Route)	Liverpool South Parkway
Widnes	Central Trains Liverpool-Norwich	Liverpool Lime Street
Warrington Central	TransPennine Express North TransPennine	Liverpool Lime Street
Disused Railways
Terminus	Cheshire Lines Committee North Liverpool Extension Line	Gateacre

edit Merseyrail Northern Line Stations
Hunts Cross – Southport Branch
Hunts Cross Liverpool South Parkway Cressington Aigburth St Michaels Brunswick Liverpool Central Moorfields Sandhills Bank Hall Bootle Oriel Road Bootle New Strand Seaforth & Litherland Waterloo Blundellsands & Crosby Hall Road Hightown Formby Freshfield Ainsdale Hillside Birkdale Southport
Ormskirk Branch
Liverpool Central Moorfields Sandhills Kirkdale Walton Orrell Park Aintree Old Roan Maghull Town Green Aughton Park Ormskirk
Kirkby Branch
Liverpool Central Moorfields Sandhills Kirkdale Rice Lane Fazakerley Kirkby