Media centre

Thursday 3 Jul 2008

LOOKING GOOD FOR THE OPEN

Region & Route:

Stations on Merseyside are looking good in readiness to welcome thousands of visitors to both the Community Rail Gala this weekend and the Open Golf tournament on 17 July, thanks to a package of work from Network Rail worth nearly £6 million.

Southport station has been completely transformed, mainly as a result of having a new £3.5 million roof.

As well as the roof work, Network Rail has invested a further £1.3 million in other enhancements to the station, including new glazed screens across the ends of the platforms to give passengers some protection from the elements. There are also new tiles over the whole of the concourse floor, new lighting above the concourse and completely new toilets incorporating disabled and baby changing facilities.

Just down the line, Birkdale has had £500,000 spent by Network Rail restoring the station’s Victorian canopies to their former 1850s glory. The timber parts were severely rotted and replaced but the cast iron sections were in good condition so they were cleaned and treated to prolong their life before new glazing was installed.

Finally, Hillside station has had a complete makeover at a cost of £200,000. The staircases from the overbridge down to the platforms have had new floor coverings and handrails, and the sides have also been renewed. The staircases also have new security shutters to stop people gaining access to the platforms when the station is shut.

Windows have been replaced, all the guttering and rainwater pipes have been renewed and the station has been completely redecorated.

Network Rail is also working in partnership with Lancashire County Council, NWDA (West Lancashire investing in Business), West Lancashire District Council, Railway Heritage Trust, Merseytravel, Merseyrail and the DfT (Access for All) and has recently announced a complete refurbishment of Ormskirk station. The value of the work is approximately £1.5 million and will include the full repair of the Grade ll listed station building, encompassing refurbishment of the ticket office and platform canopy, and providing CCTV, public address and customer information systems. The work is due to start at the end of the summer and take nine months to complete.

Network Rail’s area manager Merseyside Simon Whitehorn said: "I am very pleased to see the dramatic change to the ambience and environment of Southport station as a result of the roof renewal, the general refurbishment work at concourse level and improvement in facilities for users of this important station. The work carried out at Southport, Birkdale and Hillside is a credit to all the staff that have been involved from within Network Rail, along with those from our contractors, and it is good to see that working in partnership in this way can deliver such a high level of passenger benefit. I now look forward to work commencing later this summer at Ormskirk and working with the various funding partners in transforming that station for the local community."