THE first rail service from Wrexham to Liverpool has arrived at Lime Street station.

Operated by Transport for Wales, the first service called at Chester, Helsby, Frodsham, Runcorn and Liverpool South Parkway before heading into Lime Street at 7.59am today (Monday, May 20).

The services between Chester and Lime Street via the Halton Curve will run seven days a week, with services between Wrexham and Liverpool currently running Monday to Saturday with two trains a day towards Liverpool and one to Wrexham.

This is the first service to run direct from North Wales into Liverpool for more than 40 years and in the future it is hoped will see more journeys into Wales.

The new service will generate 250,000 new trips, unlocking leisure and business opportunities between the Liverpool City Region, Cheshire and North Wales.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “One of the Combined Authority’s key priorities is the delivery of major improvements in connectivity for our area and this is an example of us achieving that through new links into North Wales and Cheshire.

“The Halton Curve is one of many ambitious rail schemes across the Liverpool City Region that have been delivered by the Combined Authority, working together in partnership with a number of organisations.

“This is only the start of realising the benefits that re-opening the Curve will bring and the future plans for services linking the city region with Cardiff and the North Wales coast can only benefit us further.”

The £14.5m Halton Curve scheme has seen the re-opening of a 1.5 mile stretch of track near Frodsham which links services from Chester onto the West Coast Mainline into Liverpool.

Work to bring the track back into full use began in July 2017 was completed by Network Rail in May 2018.

It has been developed by the Liverpool City Region (including Halton Council), Cheshire West and Cheshire Council, the Welsh Government and a selection of the six county authorities in North Wales.

It forms part of the £340m investment in rail in the Liverpool City Region by the end of 2019 and also sits within the Great North Rail Project – a multi-billion pound investment plan to transform train travel across the North.

Network Rail project manager for the Halton Curve upgrade Karla Telford said: “Our major track and signalling upgrades on the Halton Curve – a relatively small stretch of track near Frodsham – were completed on time and under budget in May last year.

“The upgrade forms a vital part of our Great North Rail Project and unlocks new work and leisure opportunities between the Liverpool City Region, its airport, Cheshire and North Wales.

“Improved rail links are vital to boost the local economy.

"It’s incredibly exciting to see the new hourly Liverpool to Chester services in operation and welcome the first direct service from North Wales to Liverpool in over 40 years.”