New-look Liverpool station back in business

Jul 6 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

Sandhills train station building works _320

ONE of Merseyside’s busiest train stations is finally to re-open on Monday, after a four- month delay.

Sandhills station was originally supposed to re-open in March, but did not following a row between Merseytravel and Network Rail over whether it was safe for passengers to use.

But disabled passengers or those with prams or bicycles will not be able to use the station as the £6m building works will not be complete until November.

Anyone needing an accessible station for interchange between the Northern Lines is urged to continue to use Moorfields Station for the time being.

However, it will mean the station is open for use in time for the Tall Ships and Open Golf, later this month, as an interchange for Southport and the Ormskirk and Kirkby lines on Merseyrail’s Northern Line.

Neil Scales, chief executive of Merseytravel, said: “It was vital that the contractors completed sufficient works to reopen the station to passengers in what will be a very busy few weeks.

“We have been pushing hard behind the scenes to make sure this important deadline was reached and limit any impact on passengers.

“Some major works are still under way, but the result will be a fantastic regeneration project and an addition to the network.”

The transformation of Sandhills Station includes a raft of improvements including a new ticket office and booking hall, unisex disabled toilet at platform level, resurfaced platform and glazed canopy, together with two fully enclosed waiting rooms to provide better protection for passengers.

The work includes upgrading the station lighting, a new CCTV system and improved access to the station with a DDA compliant ramp and new lift to provide step free access to the station platforms.

Merseytravel is funding the project with support from the Department for Transport (£1.4m) and through the Merseyside Objective 1 funding programme (£500,000).

When open, 4,500 people use the station each day. During peak times, 26 trains an hour pass through.

davidbartlett