Liverpool Lime Street reopens after eight-week closure

Train services to and from Liverpool Lime Street have restarted today after an eight-week programme of works to upgrade and lengthen platforms at the station.

The upgrade works, which have been ongoing for nearly nine months over various closures, have now largely completed and have delivered remodelled, lengthened and widened platforms to provide more space for trains and passengers. The latest set of works began on 2 June.

The latest upgrade works provided upgrades to platforms 1 and 2. Two more days of works – Sunday 2 September and Sunday 14 October – are needed before platforms 1 and 2 come into public use, but once complete, these will allow an extra three services per hour in and out of the station, including direct services to Scotland.

During the closures, trains have been terminating at Liverpool South Parkway.

Overall, the project has seen around two miles of track upgrades with a remodelled track layout to the station’s entrance also undertaken. There have also been works to signalling equipment and overhead lines, with signalling control now moved to Manchester’s Rail Operating Centre to increase journey reliability.

Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, said: “These improvements will significantly improve services for rail users in the Liverpool City Region, and I’m pleased they have been completed on time.

“This is only the start of the ambitions we have set out in the Long Term Rail Strategy, helping to get the city region moving more efficiently and drive increased growth and investment in the area.

“We really appreciate the patience shown by passengers over the last eight weeks and I’m sure they will be pleased by the improved and increased number of services that these upgrades will bring.”

Lime Street experienced an emergency closure in January this year, caused by “severe corrosion” on structures carrying overhead lines.