Lime Street station voted worst by rail passengers

Aug 3 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

Lime Street station voted worst by rail passengers

MERSEYSIDE transport leaders last night said they were not surprised Lime Street Station had come bottom in a nationwide consumer satisfaction poll.

Only 52% of passengers were satisfied with the overall environment at Liverpool’s flagship station – the first point of entry into the city for many visitors, in a survey of the country’s 20 busiest stations.

By contrast, Manchester’s Piccadilly station – which recently had a £100m revamp – has been voted the best in the country, with 92% of rail users saying they were satisfied with its passenger facilities.

The survey was carried out by Passenger Focus, an independent consumer organisation representing the interests of rail users nationally.

The Grade II-listed Lime Street tied for last place with Birmingham New Street and East Croydon stations.

Network Rail – which owns and operates the station – said it was disappointed by the low rating, but work was ongoing to improve passenger facilities for Liverpool residents and visitors.

The company was heavily criticised earlier this year when it refused to carry out an upgrade of the station, to match the transformation of Manchester Piccadilly, saying it could not be justified “in a business case sense.”

Merseytravel are carrying out their own £2m programme of investment to give a much-needed interior facelift to the station.

The works Merseytravel are currently funding include improvements to the southern concourse, such as new flooring, the relocation of Virgin Trains’ information kiosk, modernised information screens, a relocated taxi rank, improved pick-up/drop-off point, extra cycle parking, and waiting lounges for first and second class passengers.

Extra retail space will be created by the revamp, due to be completed during Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year.

Talks are also under way with a hotel chain to fill the space created by the relocated taxi rank.

But last night Neil Scales, chief executive and director general of Merseytravel, said: “I’m not at all surprised that Lime Street has come at the bottom of the list in this survey. Although Network Rail has invested £20m in the station roof, the environment is not as good as it could be.

“But even though we do not have direct ownership of the station, we are still prepared to step in and invest in it.

“With the improvements we are carrying out, it will be a much better passenger facility on the London train departure side by this time next year.”

The area around the station is undergoing a separate multi- million pound makeover as part of the Lime Street Gateway scheme.

This involves changes in the road layout, along with the removal of the 1970s arcade of shops and “eyesore” Concourse House.

A new 27-storey tower will be used for retail, offices, eating and residential use.

OPINION: PAGE 10

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