26.09.17
NR extends platform at Liverpool South Parkway ahead of Lime Street upgrade
Important work to temporarily extend platform 4 at Liverpool South Parkway has been completed this week in preparation for the major upgrade happening at Lime Street station later on this month.
The redesigned platform will accommodate longer trains and will be key to keeping Liverpool moving when Lime Street closes between 30 September and 22 October.
Network Rail’s Orange Army has worked tirelessly to put the 150-metre temporary extension in place using an extensive scaffolding system built around existing overhead line structures, as well as relocating one of the signals.
The exterior of Liverpool South Parkway
Liverpool South Parkway station is going to act as a major interchange station during Lime Street’s major transformation,” said Sean Hyland, senior project manager at the infrastructure owner.
“In order to prepare for this we’ve completed vital platform extension works at the station to allow passengers travelling on Virgin services to alight at South Parkway during the upgrade, ready to pick up the next Merseyrail service into Liverpool.”
And Frank Rogers, chief executive of Merseytravel, explained that the work completed at Liverpool South Parkway represented the company’s commitment to both providing quality transport services and keeping people moving during the Lime Street Station upgrade.
“Transport providers have worked together to provide services to keep people moving and it’s really important that customers, both local and from further afield, plan ahead and familiarise themselves with the alternative arrangements so they can continue to get about easily and seamlessly during the works,” noted Rogers.
Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, Merseyrail's managing director, also added: “This project is testament to effective partnership-working on the part of Merseytravel, Network Rail and all the train operators affected, both from the local area and beyond. It underscores our collective determination to develop an improved railway for everyone.”
Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, emphasised that the major Lime Street station upgrade is an “essential part” of the region’s ambitious transport plans designed to boost capacity and connectivity.
“As the upgrade gets underway we’ll be continuing to make the case for the north to get the infrastructure commitment and funding it deserves, particularly in light of developments just last week with Transport for the North regarding plans that would give us direct connectivity to the High Speed network and HS2,” concluded Rotheram.
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