Cycle North Cheshire is leading a long-term campaign to transform the disused Helsby to Mouldsworth railway line into a safe, accessible path for walking, cycling and horse riding.

The route of the disused railway line.

Background

The route, part of the old West Cheshire Railway, has not served passengers for 150 years and ceased freight operations in 1991.  Following full closure, the tracks were removed, and drainage was left to deteriorate. Over time, the path became inaccessible. Yet its potential as a traffic-free active travel corridor linking Helsby and Mouldsworth has not gone unnoticed. Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, has long identified the line as an aspirational route in the National Cycle Network.

A recent photo showing how overgrown the line has become.

Progress

There have been a number of hurdles around bridge maintenance and even uncertainty about whether Network Rail, who own the land, might want to re-open the line for some purpose one day. We understand that Department for Transport has now said that bridge maintenance issues should not be a barrier to converting disused railway lines to active travel paths, providing there’s no increase in costs to them. In effect this removes that problem. Network Rail are owned by DfT so no increase in costs would result if it was converted to a path. Network Rail have recently advised Sustrans that there are no plans to re-open the railway along this corridor and are willing to negotiate a lease with a relevant party, so another major hurdle has been crossed.

Future Plans

Despite overcoming major obstacles—such as DfT’s position on bridge maintenance and Network Rail’s openness to leasing—the campaign now faces local government hurdles. The borough council is currently the only body with the authority to negotiate a lease, but tight public budgets and resource constraints make it reluctant to take on new maintenance liabilities.

To progress the campaign, the following steps are underway:

• Lease Negotiation: Create an entity that can engage with Network Rail to negotiate an agreement for the disused railway land, so that it can be converted for community use.

• Local Authority Support: Work with Cheshire West and Chester Council to ensure that they are positioned to support as appropriate.

• Funding Acquisition: Secure funding through grants and community fundraising to support the development of the path for cycling, walking and horse riding.

• Community Engagement: Continue to raise awareness and gather public support for the project through events and outreach.

The vision is to create a safe, off-road route that connects local villages and contributes to wider sustainable transport infrastructure across Cheshire. Once completed, the path could become a key link in the National Cycle Network, benefiting residents and visitors alike.

We're currently looking for volunteers to help us progress this campaign; please contact us if you're interested in becoming involved.

Photo by Steve Pemberton; Map tiles © Jawgmaps, map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Updated 8th June 2025