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Friday 2 Aug 2024

Network Rail announces multi-million-pound upgrade for Merseyrail network escalators

Region & Route:

North West & Central: North West

| North West & Central

Network Rail is investing £12.5m to replace 14 escalators at four stations across the Merseyrail network over the next three years.

The escalators have reached the end of their life and need to be replaced. The work will make sure the escalators are safe and reliable for passengers for years to come.

Escalators at Liverpool Lime Street, Moorfields, James Street and Hamilton Square will be improved, making journeys for passengers much smoother. 

Each escalator will take over 20 weeks to replace due to the specialist and detailed nature of the work.

To keep passengers on the move, one escalator per station will be done at a time.

Rebecca Rathore, Network Rail’s North West route strategy director, said: “We’re investing £12.5m into the Merseyrail escalator network to give passengers a smoother and more reliable journey experience.

“Replacing escalators takes a long time as it requires specialist engineers and equipment. We’re doing one escalator at a time per station to keep passengers on the move as much as possible.

“Passengers who would usually rely on escalators to travel are advised to use the station lifts. I'd like to thank passengers for their patience during the work.”

Work to renew the first of six escalators is taking place at Liverpool Lime Street. Work starts at Moorfields station in August.

Additionally, some of the escalators at Moorfields have been damaged by rain.

Engineers expect this work to be started by the end of September and completed by early 2025.

The whole project will be completed by 2027.