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Thursday 5 Apr 2018

Liverpool passengers reminded to check journeys ahead of Sunday upgrade

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Passengers travelling to or from Liverpool Lime Street this Sunday (8 April) are being urged to plan ahead as vital upgrade work will mean changes to journeys.

Platform 6, which was taken out of use at the end of last year, will reopen to the public at double its original width. Platform 4 will be taken out of use to also be widened and realigned.

Further vital upgrades to track and signalling will be completed this Sunday ahead of the major upgrade this summer (2 June to 29 July).

Liverpool remains open for business as a robust transportation plan will be in place, including many connecting train services. Where buses are needed they will be regular and of high quality.

This major upgrade forms part of the £340m investment in the Liverpool City Region, and sits within the Great North Rail Project. Once complete in October this year, this will enable an additional three services per hour in and out of the station – including new direct services to Scotland from 2019.

Claire Rawson, sponsor at Network Rail, said: “Liverpool Lime Street station’s major upgrade is a significant part of the Great North Rail Project which is transforming rail travel across the North of England.

“Vital upgrades to platforms and track, and a new modern signalling system, will boost station capacity - making room for more frequent, longer trains, with more space for passengers.

“We’ve built a solid plan with the train operators to keep passengers, and the Liverpool City Region, moving. I’d like to thank passengers for bearing with us as we deliver these much-needed benefits to Merseyside’s key transport hub.”

Frank Rogers, chief executive of Merseytravel said: “2018 is set to be a landmark year for transport projects in the Liverpool City Region; by 2043 passenger numbers travelling at peak times through the station will more than double.

“We encourage passengers to plan ahead and check operators websites before they travel on Sunday 8 April to understand how their journeys may be different during these essential works.”

Andy Heath, managing director of Merseyrail, said: “The Lime Street upgrade is a significant development for the region and Merseyrail will continue to keep our passengers moving this Sunday with a rail replacement bus service between Hunts Cross and Liverpool South Parkway while the work takes place.”

Find out more about the Liverpool Lime Street upgrade at www.networkrail.co.uk/lcr