Newton-le-Willows station revamp completes
Newton-le-Willows station has reopened following the completion of a £19m upgrade by Galliford Try and Network Rail, backed by Merseytravel and the Local Growth Fund.
The revamp of the station includes a new 400-space car park, a bus interchange, step-free access via a new subway and lifts, improved waiting areas, and new toilets.
Supported by the Local Growth Fund and Merseytravel, the scheme cost around £19m to complete, and forms part of the wider Great North Rail Project, which will see £340m invested in the Liverpool City Region by the end of this year.
Merseytravel and Network Rail is also delivering upgrades to 100 platforms and will carry out track improvements at 58 stations ahead of the new trains arriving in 2020.
Other works that have taken place over the last month include upgrades to platforms and track remodelling at Walton, Orrell Park, Aintree, Old Road, Maghull, Town Green, Aughton Park, and Ormskirk stations.
The works carried out across the network will allow platforms to be ready for new trains, which feature step-free access; this will allow wheelchair users to board trains without a ramp.
Cllr Liam Robinson, transport portfolio holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “The opening of the new and improved facilities at Newton-le-Willows is great news for local rail users and we thank them for the patience they have shown while the work has been taking place.
“The project team have faced a number of challenges in the construction of the new facilities but they have managed to deliver the scheme while keeping the station open and services running on the busy Manchester to Liverpool line.
“The new station and park and ride facilities are a significant investment by the Liverpool City Region. They will establish a transport hub which will link local transport through bus and rail with strategic rail links across the country, and is a prime example of our Long Term Rail Strategy being put into practice.”
Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram added: “I am delighted that the new facilities at the Newton-le-Willows Interchange have now been completed.
“Through schemes like this, we are directly investing in our public transport system to deliver an improved service across the city region, enabling better access to a host of opportunities for work, education and leisure.”
It ain’t finished yet
By Stephen Percy
“Galliford Try and Network Rail have completed a £19m overhaul of Newton-le-Willows station as Merseyrail prepares to introduce new trains next year.”
This story appears to have mixed up three separate issues:
1) The new Merseyrail trains will not operate on the City Line and so NLW is nothing to do with that project.
2) NLW rebuild is part of the Manchester Hub, aka Northern Hub aka whatever it is they’re calling it now, but
3) the new Merseyrail trains are categorically not part of this project either. Instead they and all works related to them are funded through local savings and a loan, also repaid locally.
If the trains were anything to do with Britain you would be able to tell, as Liverpool would be receiving freight wagons, and being provided with ladders to board them.
By Mike
What’s the future for the listed station building as this seems to have been completely forgotten about? At present it looks like it is just going to be mothballed with the hope of some commercial occupier taking it over, shades of the listed building at Earlestown all over again.
By MD
I use this station daily and have watched construction progress and it is far from complete, there is months of work, unless there is another planned phasing of work. The existing platform fencing and verges seem to be as previous so the interface between new and old looks terrible, the Project Manager on the scheme from Network Rail needs to get hold of the Contractor Galliford Try and get it sorted. Ps it was only cash payments at the desk this morning so the I.T needs sorting as well.
By Jeremy Simm
The station build has taken for ever!! it was supposed to be finished in Summer ? Please sort out the trains from Manchester Victoria to NLW which are messed up every evening trying to accommodate the always delayed trains from Newcastle.
By PE
Where are the new toilets on the new station in newton le Willows there said new toilets people not very happy
By Ian lovatt
January 2024 no toilets available for past 8 months. Not a great station despite all of the money spent on a refurbishment. The platform signs don’t even give you an update on expected trains!
By Brock