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Friday 27 Mar 2015

Hamilton Square station reopens after £4m redevelopment

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Hamilton Square station in Birkenhead has reopened today (27 March) after a £4m redevelopment by Network Rail.

The investment means passengers on the Merseyrail network are benefitting from improved platform and tunnel areas which include new flooring, brighter lighting and better passenger information. The station is cleaner and less cluttered and the additional information, which uses more sophisticated technology, means it’s easier for passengers to plan their journeys.

Network Rail worked with Merseyrail and Merseytravel to plan the upgrade which is the latest in a £40m upgrade of stations in Merseyside. Feedback from passengers about how they experience the station helped determine the new look and feel as well as the improved signage.

Liverpool Central, James Street and Lime Street have already been upgraded and work is due to start on the redevelopment of Moorfields on 13 April.

Chris Littler, area manager for Network Rail, said: “The £4m upgrade at Hamilton Square is part of Network Rail’s wider £40m investment in the railway in Merseyside. It has provided passengers with a better, brighter station which will give them an improved beginning or end to their journey and I thank them for their patience while the work was being completed.

“It is a positive addition to the rail network in Merseyside, complementing previous improvements made at Lime Street, Liverpool Central and James Street. We will now look forward to upgrading Moorfields to provide a better station to serve Liverpool’s business district.”

Alan Chaplin, Merseyrail’s interim managing director, added: “Hamilton Square is an impressive, historic building, but was badly in need of a makeover. Customers will see that it is now sharper and more modern, while some of the original features have been preserved. We’re confident that our passengers will like it as much as we do.”

Councillor Phil Davies, chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “It's been great to see Merseytravel, Network Rail and Merseyrail work in partnership on the refurbishment of Hamilton Square, which continues the significant investment to improve station facilities across the railway network in the Liverpool City Region.

“Merseyrail is central to the delivery of the Long Term Rail Strategy, being led by Merseytravel, which is focussed on improved connections, and more capacity for customers across the city region."

While work on the platform and underground areas of Hamilton Square station has been completed, there is still work to finish in the concourse areas and entrance to the station. This will take place overnight, without disruption to passengers, and be completed by the summer.

To celebrate the re-opening of the station, a new artwork feature will go on display, depicting some of the old advertisements discovered during the refurbishment at the end of last year. Some of the original posters date back seventy years.

Work to improve Moorfields station will begin on 13 April to be completed in spring 2016. The station will remain open throughout the work but there will be phased closures of each of the three platforms.

The dates for the phased closures have been chosen to accommodate major events in Liverpool, such as the Grand National and the Three Queens, as well as the extra passengers who come into town for Christmas.

The dates are:
- Wirral line, platform 3: closed 13 April till 2 August 2015
- Northern line, platform 2 (towards Sandhills): closed 3 August till 15 November 2015
- Northern line, platform 1 (towards Liverpool Central and Hunts Cross): closed 4 January till April 201

Passengers wanting further information on the work at Hamilton Square or Moorfields should contact Network Rail’s national helpline on 03457 114 141. For travel information visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.