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Tuesday 28 Aug 2018

Passengers reminded to check before they travel in or out of Liverpool this Sunday

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Passengers travelling to or from Liverpool Lime Street this Sunday (2 September) are urged to plan ahead as vital upgrade work will mean rail lines are closed.

This is part of the planned programme of work for Lime Street station’s major transformation. The second main phase of the station upgrade was successfully completed this summer (2 June – 29 July).

Passengers are already benefiting from new, longer, wider platforms and a new state-of-the-art signalling system. Remaining track and platform work will take place this Sunday (2 September) to help bring the new platform 1 and extended platform 2 into full passenger use in October.

The plan to keep passengers moving this Sunday will be similar to previous phases of work. Many mainline services will start and terminate at Liverpool South Parkway where passengers can easily travel in and out of Liverpool city centre using the Merseyrail network.

This is part of the transportation plan which has been developed by the rail industry over the past two years, to keep Liverpool open for business throughout the station’s transformation.

Passengers are advised to check www.networkrail.co.uk/lcr for travel advice and www.nationalrail.co.uk for live travel information.

Marcus Barnes, senior sponsor for Network Rail, said: “Our remaining upgrades this Sunday are part of an eighteen-month programme of work to transform Liverpool Lime Street, as part of the Great North Rail Project.

“Remodelled, longer, wider platforms mean more room for longer trains and more passengers. A new improved signalling system also allows us to run more trains, more reliably.

“I’d like to sincerely thank passengers for bearing with us as we deliver Liverpool Lime Street’s biggest upgrade since the 19^th century.”

Liam Robinson, Transport Portfolio Holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: "These improvements are a major part of our Long Term Rail Strategy being put into practice and will help to meet the increasing demand for services from the station.

“While the majority of the works were done during the major closures, these smaller closures are vital to get the full benefit of the upgrade at Lime Street.

"We'd like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding during this closure and look forwarding to them seeing the benefits that this upgrade will bring."

Andy Heath, managing director of Merseyrail said: "This work is a really important part of the many transport improvements that are taking place in the City Region and Merseyrail are pleased to support this project by bringing passengers in to the city centre from our Liverpool South Parkway station."

Liverpool Lime Street’s major transformation will be fully complete in October this year. The final stage of work will take place on the morning of Sunday 14 October.

This work will enable an extra three services in/out of Lime Street every hour, increasing the current timetable by just under 20%. Remodelling and rebuilding station platforms provides passengers with longer, more spacious platforms capable of accommodating longer trains and more passengers, more safely.

This capacity boost, also delivered by a wholesale signalling upgrade, is essential for the forecast growth in peak-time travellers through the station over the coming years.

Please plan your journey, visit www.networkrail.co.uk/lcr for travel advice and www.nationalrail.co.uk for live travel information.