Repairs continue on collapsed Lime Street wall

Permanent repairs are now under way on a section of wall at Liverpool Lime Street station which collapsed onto railway tracks more than two years ago.

The incident saw more than 200 tonnes of debris fall on to the tracks, forcing the station to close for a week in February 2017. While temporary repairs were carried out following the collapse, the latest works will permanently restore and repair the retaining wall next to the railway.

The collapse was caused by double-stacking of shipping containers on the land above the wall; the plot was formerly leased by developer Anwar Kassam, who had been warned by Liverpool City Council about stacking containers on the site five years before the incident.

Kassim was ordered to remove the double-stacked containers from the site in 2012, but single-storey containers remained as they were “immune from enforcement action,” according to Liverpool Council, due to being in situ for more than four years.

A report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch in late 2017 found Network Rail had not carried out an on-site inspection of the land since December 2014.

The site has since been purchased by the council and is being redeveloped to house an energy centre as part of the wider £1bn Paddington Village development.

The latest repairs are due to complete in the autumn; Network Rail said there would be no impact on passengers or services in and out of Lime Street during the project.

Tony Duncan, Network Rail project manager, said: “I’m pleased our team are able to complete the final repairs to the retaining wall above Lime Street tunnels.

“The collapse of the wall two years ago halted trains in and out of the station for several days and caused severe damage to our tracks and equipment.

“I’d like to thank Liverpool City Council for working with us to help complete this vital work.”