Ince and Elton railway station

Infobox UK station
name = Ince and Elton
code = INE

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manager = Northern Rail
locale = Elton, Cheshire
borough = Ellesmere Port and Neston
lowusage0405 = 731
lowusage0506 = 1,055
lowusage0607 = 845
platforms = 1 (Helsby) 2 (Ellesmere Port)
years = 1 July 1863
events = opened as Ince Bhead
years1 = 17 April 1884
events1 = Renamed Ince and Elton

Ince and Elton railway station, on the Ellesmere Port to Warrington Line, serves both Ince and Elton in Cheshire, England.

The station is unstaffed, generally as the station rarely sees a train at any meaningful time of day. 845 passengers are recorded as using the station in 2006-7.

A rail user group, the Merseyside & Cheshire Railways Campaign, known as MCRC, supports and actively campaigns for an improved service at this station and for this railway line; [citeweb|url=http://www.mcrc.co.nr |title=Merseyside & Cheshire Railways Campaign|accessdate=2008-08-09] support also comes from the North Cheshire Rail User Group. [citeweb|url=http://www.ncrug.org.uk/ |title=North Cheshire Rail User Group|accessdate=2008-08-09]

Northern Rail's 'Adopt-a-Station' scheme is in operation at this station. Members of the local community support the station by carrying out regular duties such as picking up litter and ensuring the station remains in a good overall condition.

Some station signs are outdated, displaying information about long gone services to Chester and Hooton (see image of sign on Platform 2).

Accessibility

warning lights indicate that it is safe, cross the lines using the foot crossing and then up the platform end ramp.

The road leading down from the main road at Ince to the station is step-free, although there is no pavement. The alternative exit, via the narrow path involves walking up steep steps, which is not accessible for passengers with pushchairs and/or mobility problems.

ervice

'Pacer' trains.

The line on which the station is situated is only electrified at Ellesmere Port; therefore no electric trains can run here. This means that Merseyrail would not be capable of extending the Liverpool Central to Ellesmere Port services to Helsby via Ince and Elton, as they use class 507 and class 508 3rd Rail Electric rolling stock. The likelihood of electrifying the line in the future is low, as there are many dangerous substances and cables surrounding the trackside as the line passes through the Stanlow & Thornton Shell oil refinery.

There is no service on Sundays. A Saturday service operates on most Bank Holidays. In the event of buses replacing trains, only one service in each direction runs, usually in the late afternoon.

In British Rail terminology, this station's rail service(s) would be referred to as a 'Parliamentary train'. This means that the Train Operating Company only runs the minimum number of services required legally, and usually at the least busy times of day, in order to still comply with the law, but to keep operating costs down to an absolute minimum. It is cheaper to run this service than going through a lengthy legal process of applying for station closures.

Freight

Freightliner usually run a class 66 'heavy-haul' service to Ellesmere Port twice a day from/to Fiddlers Ferry on Monday to Fridays. On Saturdays there is one scheduled working. [citeweb|url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/s22-fhh_12sa_supdoc.pdf |title=Freightliner Heavy Haul, Railways Act 1993, Section 22: Changes Proposed|work=Office of Rail Regulation|date=2005-10-18|accessdate=2008-08-12]

When the Shell oil refinery at Stanlow used the railways to transport freight, over fifteen trains per day used this line. Since then, the sidings and signal box have been removed, and freight is becoming increasingly rare on this line.

No freight trains currently use the station, other than to pass through it.

History

Ince station was opened on 1 July 1863 by the Birkenhead Joint Railway.Butt (1995). Page 127.] It was renamed Ince and Elton on 17 April 1884.

This station was earmarked for closure, along with Stanlow and Thornton, Helsby and Ellesmere Port, under the proposals made by Dr. Beeching, see (Beeching Axe). [citeweb|url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BRB_Beech001a.pdf |title=The Reshaping of British Railways|last=Beeching|first=Dr. Richard|accessdate=2008-06-21] This was never implemented, although services gradually began to reduce. Services originally operated regularly between Helsby and Hooton via Ellesmere Port. This was then reduced to a low-frequency service between Helsby and Ellesmere Port only, no longer serving Hooton. This low-frequency service was eventually withdrawn, and a very limited service, which sees very few trains, was put in operation, and remains in force today.

Public Transport Interchange

[cite web|url=http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/DED42E9F-5170-40FC-943B-E09FEAF117E8/0/3636A230407EP105.pdf|title=Number 36 Bus Timetable|accessdate=2008-05-03] . Buses run until around 19:00 local time.

These services only run Monday-Saturday, (not Bank Holidays). This means that Ince and Elton villages are not served by any public transport on Sundays and public holidays.

There is a free small car park located just outside the station. There is no CCTV or staff at this station.

Future

Quinn Glass, ("part of the Quinn Group " is located in Elton, and is currently undergoing expansion near this railway station. The Network Rail Route Strategy Guide states that Quinn Glass is interested in additional passenger and freight services on this line. It is also interpreted that planning permission requires Quinn Glass to maximise upon existing public transport links, as well as create new ones. [cite web|url=http://www.chester.gov.uk/PDF/Planning-quinn-glass.pdf|title=Quinn Glass Planning Application|accessdate=2008-05-04] These plans could potentially lead to new services on this line, as well as improved station facilities and rolling stock.

References

Notes

Sources

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External links

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