Birkenhead’s Hamilton Square train station is due to be closed for six months as a multi-million pound refurbishment scheme prepares to get underway.
The work is part of a wider project to improve all five stations in Liverpool city centre. Liverpool Central was redeveloped in 2012 and Lime Street and James Street in 2013 and Moorfields is due to be refurbished next year.
The £4m scheme is expected to improve platforms and tunnels by revamping floor space, installing brighter lights and improving passenger information.
Network Rail are promising that the station will look cleaner and updated, which will make journey planning much easier for locals, tourists and visitors to the region.
The station will be closed from Monday 29 September until spring 2015 but trains will continue to run through the station but will not be stopping there. A rail replacement bus will be in service to minimise disruption to regular passengers.
Buses will run every five minutes between 7am and 10am and 4pm and 7pm, Monday to Friday, and every 10 minutes at all other times. The bus round trip will take about 15 minutes and 20 minutes at peak-times.
Maarten Spaargaren, managing director of Merseyrail, said:
“We know that the temporary closure of the station is not good for customers in the short term, but I am confident that the upgrade will make a big difference and people will really like the new look and feel.
“A lot of thought will go into improving signage and customer information, making travel on the network easier and more pleasant.”
Cllr Liam Robinson, chair of Merseytravel, added:
“There has been significant investment to improve station facilities across the railway network in the Liverpool City Region in the last few years and we’re delighted to once again work with Network Rail and Merseyrail on the next station in this large scale refurbishment programme.
“We appreciate that the work will involve some significant disruption to passengers who normally use the station in the short-term but we are confident that it will bring significant improvements for them in the longer term.”
Ian Joslin, area director for Network Rail also commented:
“The nature of the work means it can only be carried out while the station is closed. We apologise for the inconvenience this will cause but passengers can be assured we are working closely with Merseyrail and Merseytravel to minimise disruption as possible.”
“This work will significantly improve Hamilton Square station and provide passengers with a better beginning or end to their journey.”
For further information on the work you can contact Network Rail’s national helpline by calling 08457 114 141.
Source: Liverpool Echo