Latest Rail News

09.10.17

Liverpool Lime Street reopens first two platforms in £340m upgrade

Network Rail has reopened two platforms at Liverpool Lime Street as the £340m investment in the Liverpool City Region continues.

The platforms had been closed as part of the redevelopment which will upgrade the station’s signalling systems as well as improve existing tracks and add a fourth track between Huyton and Roby.

The work is part of the Great North Rail Project - which will be completed in 2018 - and will enable an extra three services per hour in and out of Liverpool’s main station, including new direct services to Scotland.

Main line services between Liverpool and Birmingham, London, Leeds, Manchester and Crewe have been diverted to Liverpool South Parkway since work began nine days ago.

The station has since experienced more than three times the numbers of regular passengers, with upwards of 155,000 journeys starting and ending at the destination.

The upgrades to Lime Street are expected to be completed on 22 October but the reopened platforms mean trains will be able to run between 6am and 8pm daily.

Rob Grey, project manager at Network Rail, said: “This much needed investment will boost the city’s economy and enable more reliable, more frequent journeys.

“Completing the fourth track between Huyton and Roby is a major milestone and we are making great progress at Lime Street, a third of the way through the first phase of its major upgrade.”

Work between Huyton and Roby has been completed in two stages, the first of which was completed in 2014.

When finished, the improvements will include new platforms at both stations, signalling upgrades and overhead line equipment installed, and new facilities at the stations including better customer information systems, new lifts and easier access via the subway.

Sharon Keith, regional director at Northern Rail, added: “It’s great to see such early progress in the transformation of Liverpool Lime Street and the modernisation of the Liverpool City Region infrastructure.

“We are delighted to once again be able to offer rail services to our customers on the Huyton and Roby line and are excited about the long term benefits the line upgrades will bring in tandem with our own modernisation programme.”

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Comments

Andrew Gwilt   09/10/2017 at 22:44

Good work. Nicely done Network Rail. But will Liverpool Lime Street 4 platforms could be extended to accommodate for 11-Car Virgin Trains Class 390’s. As well 12-Car Class 350 LM trains and other trains formed as 9-Car and 10-Car formation.

Andrew JG   10/10/2017 at 01:08

The rest of the platforms at Liverpool Lime Street should reopen just before Christmas. As Network Rail will still carry on with maintenance and engineering works including electrification, overhead line replacements, signalling, Thameslink programme, Crossrail and other improvements to our railways with their orange railway workers carrying these tasks over the Christmas period as always every year and throughout the new year as promised.

Rachel G   10/10/2017 at 14:03

Hi Andrew JG. The rest of the platforms will reopen on 22 October so in plenty of time for Christmas...

Mikeb   10/10/2017 at 15:00

Andrew. Platforms 7 & 8 (old numbers) at Lime Street have always been able to accommodate 11-car Pendolinos.

Andrew JG   10/10/2017 at 16:29

Ah right. Thanks Mike B.

Andrew JG   10/10/2017 at 16:30

And Thanks Rachel.

Kate W   10/10/2017 at 21:27

Does this mean I will be able to catch the train to Manchester Victoria from Liverpool Lime Street now and do not have to go to Liverpool south parkway?

Frankh   10/10/2017 at 21:46

Yes but, 1952 was the last departure tonight. You can get a bus to Huyton and catch from there or use parkway.

Steve   11/10/2017 at 12:19

I've booked some prepaid tickets for collection. When will the Fast-Ticket machines be available in Lime street

Mikeb   11/10/2017 at 15:25

Steve. Lime Street has remained open for retail, whilst the platform work is ongoing, So the Ticket Machines should be available.

Denise Broderick   14/10/2017 at 10:37

can i now get the train from Warrington Central to Lime st on the 21st of October or do i have to go to Parkway

Mikeb   14/10/2017 at 15:50

Denise. The work is being completed over the weekend of 21st/22nd October, so you will have to change into a bus at Parkway. Everything should be running as normal on Monday 23rd.

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