North Mersey Branch
Encyclopedia
The North Mersey Branch (NMB) is a railway line that connected the Liverpool and Bury Railway
at Fazakerley Junction with the Gladstone Dock
. It was opened in 1867 by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
.
between North Mersey Branch Junction and Gladstone Dock.
Aintree Racecourse
station opened around 1890 as the only station on the line and saw its last service on 31 March 1962. It only operated on race days at Aintree Racecourse
. Gladstone Dock
station opened on 7 September 1914, when the section of track from North Mersey Branch Junction was electrified, and closed on 7 July 1924. Two more stations on the line opened on 1 June 1906 with the electrification of the line; these closed on 2 April 1951.
's Northern Line
have been put forward in Sefton's transport plan, with the first details to emerge about its possible reopening being published by the media on 28 February 2008. The Crosby Herald newspaper reported that the line could be reopened in conjunction with Liverpool FC's new stadium, to provide additional transport links via the town of Litherland
, likely to cost millions.
Liverpool and Bury Railway
The Liverpool and Bury Railway was formed in 1845 and opened on 28 November 1848. The line ran from Liverpool Exchange first using a joint line with Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway before branching of to proceed via Kirkby then Wigan and Bolton to Bury.In 1846 the line merged with the...
at Fazakerley Junction with the Gladstone Dock
Gladstone Dock
Gladstone Dock is a dock on the River Mersey, England and part of the Port of Liverpool. It is situated in the northern dock system in Bootle. The dock is connected to the Royal Seaforth Dock to the north and what remains of Hornby Dock to the south...
. It was opened in 1867 by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
.
Usage
From 1896 there was a junction to the Liverpool Overhead RailwayLiverpool Overhead Railway
The Liverpool Overhead Railway was the world's first electrically operated overhead railway. The railway was carried mainly on iron viaducts, with a corrugated iron decking, onto which the tracks were laid. It ran close to the River Mersey in Liverpool, England, following the line of Liverpool Docks...
between North Mersey Branch Junction and Gladstone Dock.
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse railway station
Aintree Racecourse railway station was a station located on the North Mersey Branch. It originally opened as Aintree Cinder Lane around 1890 as the only station on the line at the time, only opening for race days at Aintree Racecourse.-History:...
station opened around 1890 as the only station on the line and saw its last service on 31 March 1962. It only operated on race days at Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
. Gladstone Dock
Gladstone Dock railway station
Gladstone Dock railway station was a station in Bootle, England, located on the North Mersey Branch. Situated west of Rimrose Road within the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Estate, it was named after the nearby Gladstone Dock. It opened on 7 September 1914 and closed on 7 July 1924.Although closed...
station opened on 7 September 1914, when the section of track from North Mersey Branch Junction was electrified, and closed on 7 July 1924. Two more stations on the line opened on 1 June 1906 with the electrification of the line; these closed on 2 April 1951.
Today
The section of the line between Sefton Junction and North Mersey Branch Junction still exists, although has no services running and is no longer electrified.Future
Plans to open this section as part of MerseyrailMerseyrail
Merseyrail is a train operating company and commuter rail network in the United Kingdom, centred on Liverpool, Merseyside. The network is predominantly electric with diesel trains running on the City Line. Two City Line branches are currently being electrified on the overhead wire AC system with...
's Northern Line
Northern Line (Merseyrail)
The Northern Line is one of the two commuter rail lines operated by Merseyrail in Merseyside, England. The other line is the Wirral Line. A third line of the Merseyrail Network, the City Line, is not owned or operated by Merseyrail, although funded by Merseytravel.The Northern Line passes...
have been put forward in Sefton's transport plan, with the first details to emerge about its possible reopening being published by the media on 28 February 2008. The Crosby Herald newspaper reported that the line could be reopened in conjunction with Liverpool FC's new stadium, to provide additional transport links via the town of Litherland
Litherland
Litherland is a suburban village in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England. It was formerly an urban district, which included Seaforth and Ford...
, likely to cost millions.
External links
- Historic map of railways in Liverpool
- Potential Rail Improvements in North Western England - Evidence presented to the Transport Select Committee, 2002-03
- Engineering train on the North Mersey Branch in 2007