Merseyside's railways to benefit from £340m improvements
- Published
The plan will see major improvements to Liverpool's Lime Street Station
Rail services across Merseyside are to be given a £340m upgrade, Network Rail has announced.
Network Rail and Merseytravel will invest in new stations and new rolling stock to provide more frequent services and improve reliability.
The plan will also include improvements to Liverpool's Lime Street Station and the re-opening the Halton Curve, linking Liverpool to North Wales.
The work is expected to take three years to complete.
It will include:
New and longer platforms at Lime Street station, with upgraded signalling equipment. This will enable longer trains and more frequent services
Renewing tracks on the Merseyrail underground loop
Laying additional track between Huyton and Roby - this will enable faster services between Liverpool and the east
Building a new station at Maghull North - between the existing Maghull and Town Green stations
Newton-le-Willows station will be improved
New Liverpool-to-Chester service and the re-opening of the Halton Curve
Newton-le-Willows station will be improved as part of the scheme
Merseytravel Chairman Councillor Liam Robinson said that while the projects would mean "significant changes to how people make their journeys", he hoped to "minimise disruption to residents, visitors and business".
The improvements are part of Network Rail's nationwide Railway Upgrade Plan, external to upgrade tracks and stations in response to increased demand for services.
They will pave the way for additional services, such as planned new First Transpennine Express services from Liverpool to Glasgow in 2019, and new Liverpool to Chester services.