Lord Adonis also interrupted a nationwide tour of the UK’s slum stations to officially open Central’s new £1m MtoGo shop.
Central’s share of the £50m – which has not yet been set – is likely to be spent on making it easier for passengers to get around the platform.
Merseyrail is looking into space-saving solutions like re-locating information boards, moving escalators, installing a new lift and building a new free-standing roof.
Welcoming the new political backing, Cllr Dowd said: “This is tremendous news, something for which I have campaigned and lobbied long and hard.
“We have brought a succession of ministers to Central Station to see the situation for themselves and our persistence has been rewarded.”
Liverpool Riverside MP Louise Ellman added: “It’s taken time, but the station’s got increasingly busy.
“It’s a significant step forward.”
