Newly re-elected Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham releases fresh images of how the £100m Liverpool Baltic Merseyrail station will look – and reveals when it will be open. Tony McDonough reports
A new £100m Merseyrail station to be located in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle district is expected to be open by the end of 2027.
On Monday, newly re-elected Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham released new images showing how the Liverpool Baltic station, located on the Hunts Cross to Southport line, will look when complete.
This scheme is funded through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS), allocated via the Department for Transport. It is one of Mr Rotheram’s manifesto pledges.
He has also pledged to build three new stations at Daresbury in Halton, Woodchurch on the Wirral and Carr Mill in St Helens, with work to develop all three under way by the end of the decade.
Although planned to be located at the site of the former St James station, which closed in 1917, a decision was taken to change the station name to avoid any confusion with the existing James Street station in Liverpool city centre.
In a public vote in 2022 Liverpool Baltic was the clear winner with 77.7% of the vote, with Liverpool Parliament Street in second on 15.2% and Liverpool Riverside third on 7.1%.
“Since I have been Mayor, I have worked around the clock to ensure our area has better connectivity so that people get to enjoy a reliable, accessible, affordable and integrated public transport network,” said Mr Rotheram.
“There are some unique challenges with the design of the site given that the station platform is subterranean.
“However, these plans for Liverpool Baltic further demonstrate our ambitions for the future of public transport in our area – a modern, fully accessible network with state-of-the-art infrastructure that unlocks opportunities for people and businesses.”
Around 15 years ago the Baltic district was little more than a series of largely abandoned dock warehouses. Since then it has been transformed into one of the fastest-growing digital and creative hubs in the UK.
There has also been considerable investment into leisure and hospitality businesses as well as residential development. Added to that, the nearby Paddington Village is being transformed into a life sciences hub with significant new development.
Plans for Liverpool Baltic station include step-free access from street to train, passenger waiting facilities, fully accessible passenger toilets, secured monitored cycle parking and links to an enhanced local active travel network.
Mr Rotheram added: “Liverpool Baltic is just the first in a pipeline of new stations we will be delivering over the next few years to ensure we are connecting local people to each other and to the opportunities we are creating.”
These new images have been unveiled ahead of a public consultation in June and July over plans for the new station. As part of the consultation, a new virtual reality (VR) walkthrough will allow members of the public to place themselves within the station.
The engagement period will begin on Monday, June 3, and close at 5pm on Friday 26 July, with those interested invited to submit their views via the options below.
- An online survey (launching June 3)
- Two drop-in events (which will include the VR walkthrough)
- Feedback postcard for local residents and businesses
Information gathered from this will be used to finalise the designs ahead of the planning application. Subject to approval, it is expected work will begin on site in 2025.
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Cllr Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet member for Growth and Economy, also said: “The new Liverpool Baltic station has huge potential to help drive the economic growth of this part of the city centre
“Its development will also complement the council’s plans to improve the public realm in the area for both residents and visitors alike.”