Liverpool Baltic Station expected to secure £96m funding

The highly anticipated project will provide an artery into “one of the coolest, most vibrant areas in the country”, according to Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram.

With the land already purchased, a decision on whether to draw down £96m to fund the project will be made by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority at a meeting on 20 September.

Funds for the scheme will be derived from the £710m City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, allocated from Westminster.

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A planning application will be submitted to Liverpool City Council next month once funding is secured. Architect Owen Ellis is leading on the design.

The Baltic Triangle is seen as an area with strong socio-economic potential, a hotspot for creatives, entrepreneurs, and local entertainment. Building a station there will plug a gap in the city’s transport network.

On the project, Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “It is about more than just getting from A to B – it’s about connecting people with jobs, education, and each other while cutting down on car journeys to help us hit our net zero targets.”

Liverpool Baltic Station’s planned opening towards the end of 2027 will form a critical part of Rotheram’s 2035 net zero target for the city and his “Merseyrail for all” commitment.

The station will be on the Northern Line, between Liverpool Central and Brunswick Station.

Rail infrastructure is already in place – St James station opened in 1874 on the same site but was closed during the First World War as a way of trimming public finances.

Liverpool Baltic Station will provide step-free access from street to train, passenger waiting facilities, fully accessible passenger toilets, and secured monitored cycle parking. Links to an improved active travel network will also be provided as part of the plans, with the aim of reducing residents’ dependence on cars.

The station will be served by standard 777 units.

The £500m new fleet of battery-powered Merseyrail trains, which entered into service in October 2023, will not be used for Liverpool Baltic.

Three other rail stations – Daresbury in Halton, Woodchurch in Wirral, and Carr Mill in St Helens – are also in the pipeline.

Mayor Steve Rotheram believes that more effective transport is the key to unlocking the region’s potential, adding that “this new station at Liverpool Baltic is just another step on the journey towards making our Merseyrail system bigger, better, and more accessible for everyone.”

The project team includes Mott MacDonald, Infinite 3D, WSP, Merseyrail Electrics 2002 and Skanska.

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