£100m plans to open a new Merseyrail station in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle face a ‘significant’ delay. Tony McDonough reports
It now looks unlikely a new Merseyrail station planned for Liverpool’’s Baltic Triangle will be open in 2028, it has been revealed.
On Wednesday Liverpool City Region Combined Authority admitted it had yet to appoint a main contractor on the £100m project despite securing planning permission from Liverpool City Council in April 2025.
And the Liverpool Echo has reported that aspirations to have the station open in 2028 now seem increasingly unrealistic. As recently as last summer it was hoped the station could be operational by the end of 2027.
Major rail infrastructure projects are almost always carried out by Network Rail, the state-owned operator of the UK rail network. However, Network Rail is currently short of capacity due to the impact of HS2.
It is possible for the Combined Authority to seek another main contractor although the work involved – working on a live rail line in a deep cutting – requires very specialist skills and experience.
Mr Rotheram spoke of his frustration at the delay, saying: “I’m not someone who is ever happy about things being delayed. I wanted us on site quicker.
“I’d rather be up front with people now than risk overpromising and underdelivering. This project is still happening, and we will see it through to delivery.”
A new station for the Baltic district has long been a priority for the Mayor. Over the past decade and a half the area has been transformed from empty streets full of derelict dock warehouses into a thriving hub for the creative, digital and hospitality sectors.
Also, Paddington Village has emerged as a fast-growing hub for the science and tech sectors with other new developments set to follow the completion of The Spine office building.
In a statement the Combined Authority said: “Liverpool Baltic is a central part of Mayor Rotheram’s vision to transform public transport across the city region.
“It complements a programme of major investment, including our £500m publicly owned trains, taking buses back under public control, and plans for a new rapid transit system.
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“Once delivered, Liverpool Baltic will be the third new Merseyrail station built since Mayor Rotheram took office in 2017, with Maghull North and Headbolt Lane already completed.
“A further three new stations are planned for Carr Mill in St Helens, Woodchurch on the Wirral, and Daresbury in Halton.
“Appointing the main contractor is the next key step in this process, and we have been exploring a range of delivery methods to ensure the project is delivered to the highest standard – more will be announced on this soon.”