Media centre

Thursday 3 Oct 2013

Network Rail launches public consultation in Huyton on plans to increase rail capacity

Region & Route:

Network Rail today launched a three-day consultation giving members of the public the opportunity to comment on plans to construct a new section of railway track near Huyton railway station.

The rail infrastructure company is investing in a key package of work in the area to improve capacity on the railway line between Manchester and Liverpool via Newton-le-Willows, which will increase the number of tracks running through Huyton and Roby from two to four, allowing additional fast inter-city trains to run on the line without being held up behind local stopping services and freight trains.

The work is being delivered as part of the Northern Hub – a programme of investment to deliver faster, more frequent services across the North of England and stimulate economic growth by better connecting towns and cities.

The public consultation focuses on plans for a small section (240m) of the new fourth track, which needs be constructed on land not owned by Network Rail, by the Huyton telephone exchange and Huyton bus station. The work will need to extend into the edges of both sites and so consent through a Transport and Works Act Order from the Secretary of State for Transport will be required to build this section of track.

The new tracks will be constructed between Pilch Lane and Huyton Junction. All of the third track, and most of the fourth (apart from the section requiring consent) will be built on Network Rail’s land, making use of an existing redundant track bed. Huyton and Roby stations will also be improved as part of wider work in the area.

Dyan Crowther, route managing director at Network Rail, said: “The Northern Hub is an important investment programme for the North of England. It will create space for up to 700 more trains every day and help provide over £4bn worth of wider economic benefits for the region. The plans at Huyton and Roby to increase capacity on the line between Liverpool and Manchester are a key part of the Hub and we look forward to meeting stakeholders to discuss the scheme.”

More information is available to view on www.networkrail.co.uk/huytonroby. If the 240m section of new track is approved, work will complete by the end of 2017.