Line and station closures planned for rail upgrades
AROLLING programme of line and station closures will be put in place across the Merseyrail network from autumn as work gets under way to introduce new state-ofthe-art trains in 2020.
The first phase of line closures will be from Walton to Ormskirk in October, with another 10 stages to follow on both the Northern and Wirral lines, until work is complete next June.
The work will involve remodelling a total of 100 platforms and realigning track at 58 stations.
The station upgrades will involve closing sections of the line so platforms can be adjusted to adapt to the new trains. Merseyrail said they had tried to reduce disruption by programming line closures when there were no major events happening and when there was low customer demand.
Network Rail bosses said the closures had to be put in place so engineers could work in safety – and to allow access for machinery, equipment and materials.
The new trains are being introduced as the present Merseyrail fleet is approaching the end of its working life, with some units 40 years old.
Merseyrail said the trains will be safer, reducing the gap between the platform and the train.
It also said there will be 50% more passenger-carrying capacity, with wider aisles, along with a 10% reduction in journey times.
Andy Heath, Merseyrail managing director, said: “A lot of work has gone into minimising disruption as much as possible, and both rail replacement buses and our staff will be available to help keep everyone moving.
“This is the largest investment in the network since the 1970s and is a gamechanger for public transport in the Liverpool city region.”
The full programme of closures is as follows:
Phase 1: October 20-28: All stations closed from Ormskirk to Walton
October 29-November 9: Stations closed from Ormskirk to Old Roan
Phase 2: November 12-December 16: Closure of Bank Hall station (trains will run through without stopping)
Phase 3: December 24-January 1 2019: Closure of Wirral loop line
Phase 4: January 5-13: Stations closed from Kirkby to Rice Lane
Phase 5: January 19-20 /26-27: Liverpool Central to Hunts Cross closed
January 21-25: Brunswick to Hunts Cross closed
Phase 6: February 2-10: Southport to Hall Road closed
February 11-24: Formby to Bank Hall closed
Phase 7: March 2-22: Rock Ferry to Hooton closed
March 25-April 2: Hooton to Chester closed
Phase 8: April 7-14: West Kirby to Birkenhead North closed
April 15-22: West Kirby to Bidston closed
Phase 9: April 27-May 5: New Brighton to Birkenhead North closed
Phase 10: April 27-June 15: Overpool station (station will remain open but there will be changes to journey)
Phase 11: May 11-June 15: Green Lane station (as above)