Plans for four new railway stations across the Liverpool City Region have taken another significant step forward, as Mayor Steve Rotheram advances his commitment to begin work on the schemes before the end of the decade.
The proposed stations at Liverpool Baltic, Carr Mill, Daresbury and Woodchurch form a key part of the Mayor's Merseyrail for All strategy, which seeks to extend rail connectivity to communities currently underserved by the network and improve access to employment, education and wider economic opportunities.
The latest progress on all four schemes is due to be reviewed by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority on 6 November, alongside a wider programme of investment in the region's existing rail infrastructure.
Liverpool Baltic Nears Construction Phase
Among the four projects, Liverpool Baltic remains the most advanced.
The proposed station, located between Liverpool Central and Brunswick, would provide a direct rail connection to the rapidly expanding Baltic Triangle district, one of Liverpool's fastest-growing business, residential and creative quarters.
The Combined Authority is being asked to approve the station's Full Business Case, a move that would clear the way for construction to begin in 2027, subject to final approvals.
Progress Continues at Carr Mill, Daresbury and Woodchurch
Development work is also advancing on the remaining three proposed stations.
At Daresbury in Halton, feasibility studies and an initial business case have been commissioned, with findings expected in early 2027. The work will determine the station's viability and inform future development.
Meanwhile, initial designs for a new station at Carr Mill in St Helens have been completed. Further development work will now be undertaken in partnership with Network Rail, Northern and St Helens Council. The station is expected to enhance rail links and improve access to jobs and education for local residents.
On the Wirral, early-stage development work for a new station at Woodchurch is progressing, with further findings also anticipated in early 2027.
Mayor Highlights Importance of Better Transport Links
Commenting on the plans, Mayor Steve Rotheram said:
"When I became Mayor, it had been nearly 20 years since the last new Merseyrail station opened. Since then, we've opened two more – and now we're making progress on another four."
"I've always believed that where you live shouldn't determine the opportunities available to you in life. But if you can't get to a decent job, college or university because there's no convenient rail connection, you're already starting at a disadvantage. I don't think that's right.
"That's the thinking behind Merseyrail for All. I want to bring the benefits of our fantastic Merseyrail network to more people and places, including communities that have been cut off from those opportunities for too long. And it's why I made a manifesto commitment to begin work on four new stations by 2030.
"We've already invested more than £500m in new publicly owned trains, and in 2028 we're taking Merseyrail itself into public ownership. Alongside bringing our buses back under local control, it's all part of building a transport network that works for passengers, not the other way around.
"These new stations represent so much more than dots on a map. They're new connections to jobs, investment and opportunities for communities right across our region. And if we're serious about delivering good growth in every postcode, we've got to make sure nobody gets left behind because of where they live."
Accessibility and Station Upgrades Also Moving Forward
Alongside the proposed new stations, the Combined Authority is continuing to invest in improvements across the existing network.
Work is currently underway to deliver step-free access improvements at Aigburth and Rock Ferry stations, while similar schemes are being developed at Port Sunlight and Walton.
The programme supports the Mayor's ambition to ensure every local railway station is fully accessible, helping passengers travel independently regardless of mobility requirements.
Further investment is also planned for Runcorn station, where proposals include a modernised ticket office, enhanced waiting facilities, new retail opportunities and upgraded passenger amenities.
At Moorfields, additional improvements are being explored, while a £26 million wayfinding programme aims to improve signage, real-time travel information and interchange connections across the wider public transport network.
Merseyrail Public Ownership on the Horizon
The station investment programme comes ahead of plans to bring Merseyrail services into public ownership in 2028 when the current operating contract expires.
Under the proposals, Liverpool City Region leaders believe greater local control will help create a more integrated transport system, combining rail, buses, ferries and future rapid transit services into a network similar to those seen in major metropolitan areas such as London.
With work progressing across all four proposed stations, the programme represents one of the most significant expansions of the Liverpool City Region's rail network in recent decades and could play a key role in supporting future economic growth across Merseyside, Halton, St Helens and the Wirral.
Image credit: Liverpool City Region
