Mayor declares new station officially open
METRO Mayor Steve Rotheram has officially opened the new railway station on the line between Ormskirk and Liverpool.
Mr Rotheram hailed the benefits that improved rail links will bring the local community after Merseyrail completed work on the 68th stop on its network.
At an official ceremony for Maghull North station on Friday morning, the Metro Mayor unveiled a commemorative plaque.
He was accompanied by Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson and other representatives from the key partners involved in developing the scheme.
Mr Rotheram said: “This new station demonstrates the strategic approach we are taking to ensure that our policies work in harmony across areas including transport, housing, economic development and skills.
“This £13m investment in Maghull North is a great example, as the new station anticipates the needs of the hundreds of people who will live in new homes planned for the area in the near future.”
The station is just off School Lane, next to the former Ashworth Hospital site, between the existing Maghull and Town Green stations on the Ormskirk branch of the Northern Line.
Work began on the scheme in September 2017, with Network Rail and contractor Buckingham Group constructing the station on behalf of Merseytravel.
The first service departed at 5.58am on Monday last week.
Facilities at the new station include:
Staffed station building and ticket office with passenger toilet.
Passenger waiting on the platforms.
Step-free access with lifts and a bridge to, from and between both platforms and the station building. facilities
156-space car park with blue badge and motorcycle parking facilities, as well as cycle storage.
Pedestrian and cycle routes from School Lane and Park Lane to the station, and bus stops on School Lane.
Future provision for electric vehicle charging points.
The £13m scheme is being funded through the Government’s Local Growth Fund (LGF), Merseytravel and a contribution from the Homes and Communities Association, which previously owned the land on which the station will be built.
It forms part of the wider £340m investment of rail improvements in the Liverpool city region over the next three years, and the wider Great North Rail Project to transform train travel throughout the North.
Mr Esterson said: “It is excellent news for residents in Maghull and Lydiate that the station has opened and I am sure it will bring great benefits to the people living here.
“It will also be very important as hundreds of new homes are planned nearby.
“The additional car parking will help and the extra station will take some pressure of the existing station in Maghull.
“This is a vital part of infrastructure development that will boost economic growth and is good news passengers.”