Merseyrail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Merseyrail |
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 777001 Chester.jpg |
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| Info | |||
| Owner | Merseytravel, Network Rail | ||
| Locale |
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| Transit type | Commuter rail | ||
| Number of lines | 2 (plus main line commuter services) | ||
| Number of stations | 69 (67 managed ) | ||
| Chief executive | Neil Grabham | ||
| Headquarters | Rail House, Liverpool | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation | 1886 as the Mersey Railway, 1977 as expanded Merseyrail | ||
| Operator(s) | Merseyrail Electrics 2002 (Serco and Transport UK Group) | ||
| Number of vehicles | 57 | ||
| Train length | 3 or 4 cars, 6 or 8 cars during peak times | ||
| Headway | 15 minutes (general), 5 minutes (central sections), 30 minutes (Ellesmere Port branch, general in evenings and on Sundays) | ||
| Technical | |||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | ||
| Electrification | 750 V DC third rail | ||
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Merseyrail is a train network that helps people travel around Merseyside and nearby areas like Cheshire and Lancashire. It's a bit like a local subway or commuter train system. Merseyrail has 69 train stations, and it manages 67 of them. The network has two main lines: the Northern Line and the Wirral Line.
The trains run on electricity using a special system called 750 V DC third rail. The Merseyrail network covers about 120.7 kilometers (about 75 miles) of tracks, with 6.5 miles (about 10.5 kilometers) of these tracks running underground.
Since January 2023, Merseyrail has been getting brand new Class 777 trains. These new trains are replacing the older Class 507 and 508 trains. There are 53 new trains in total. In 2022 and 2023, about 25.5 million passengers used the Merseyrail network.
Merseyrail is run by a company called Merseyrail Electrics 2002. This company is a partnership between Serco and Transport UK Group. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority gives them permission to run the trains, and Merseytravel oversees everything. Merseytravel is in charge of public transport in the Liverpool City Region. You might also see Merseyrail signs and tickets at stations on the City Line, even though different companies operate those trains.
Merseyrail started in 1977. Back then, they connected existing railway lines by building new tunnels under Liverpool city centre and Birkenhead. Over time, the network has grown. They added more electric lines and opened new stations. Some of the new Class 777 trains can even run on batteries. This allowed the Northern Line to extend past the electric tracks at Kirkby to a new station called Headbolt Lane.
The history of Merseyrail goes back to the Mersey Railway in 1886. This was an underground railway and was the second underground passenger railway in the world, after the Metropolitan Railway in London. Merseyrail has been part of several "world firsts" in railway history.
Contents
Merseyrail Network
The Merseyrail network is a self-contained system. It is run by Merseyrail Electrics 2002, a partnership between Serco and Transport UK Group. The network has two main electric lines: the Northern Line and the Wirral Line. Trains on these lines usually run every 15 minutes in outer areas. In central parts of the city, trains come much more often, like a rapid transit system. All these lines use a 750 V DC third rail electric system.
The City Line, shown in red on maps, is mostly run by Northern with money from Merseytravel. The City Line is mostly electric, but one part, the line from Liverpool to Manchester via Warrington, uses diesel trains.
The Northern and Wirral Lines cover the Liverpool City Region. They have a total length of 120.7 kilometers (about 75 miles) and serve 67 stations. These lines connect Liverpool city centre with towns and cities further out, such as Southport, Chester, and Ormskirk. There are also many stops in between for people living in the urban areas.
Unlike other train networks in the UK, Merseyrail's tracks and equipment are owned and looked after by Network Rail. Because Merseyrail is a local system serving just one city region, the local government is in charge of how it operates. This is different from the national train system. The City Line is connected to other regional and high-speed services, so it's not part of this special local arrangement.
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The three lines connect at different stations:
- The Northern Line and City Line meet at Liverpool South Parkway and Hunts Cross in the south of Liverpool.
- The Wirral Line and City Line meet at Lime Street in the city centre.
- The Northern Line and Wirral Line meet at Liverpool Central and Moorfields in the city centre.
Northern Line Services
The Northern Line is shown in blue on Merseyrail maps. Its logo is used at underground stations. Trains run on three main routes:
- From Hunts Cross in south Liverpool to Southport. This route goes through a tunnel under central Liverpool.
- From Liverpool Central to Ormskirk.
- From Liverpool Central to Headbolt Lane via Kirkby.
Each of these routes has a train every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday. This means trains come very often in the central part of the line. Some extra trains run during busy times on the Southport line.
On match days for Everton F.C. and Liverpool F.C., Northern Line trains connect with the SoccerBus service at Sandhills station. This bus takes fans to the stadiums. Buses leave often from Sandhills, and you can buy a ticket that covers both the train and the bus. Kirkdale station is also close enough to Goodison Park to walk.
You can connect to other train services (not Merseyrail) at these stations:
- Southport for trains to Wigan Wallgate and Manchester Airport.
- Liverpool South Parkway for trains operated by London Northwestern Railway, East Midlands Railway, TransPennine Express, and Northern. These trains go to places like Birmingham New Street, Manchester Oxford Road, Blackpool North, and other areas in Yorkshire and the West Midlands.
- Hunts Cross for trains to Warrington Central and Manchester Oxford Road.
- Ormskirk for trains to Preston.
- Headbolt Lane for trains to Wigan Wallgate and Manchester Victoria.
Wirral Line Services
The Wirral Line is shown in green on Merseyrail maps. Its logo is used at underground stations. Trains start from four different stations: Chester, Ellesmere Port, New Brighton, and West Kirby.
All these trains go through Birkenhead Hamilton Square underground station in Birkenhead. Then they travel through the Mersey Railway Tunnel and continue around a single-track underground loop tunnel under Liverpool's city centre. After that, they go back through the Mersey Railway Tunnel to return to one of the four starting stations.
From Monday to Saturday, trains run every 15 minutes between Liverpool and Chester, New Brighton, and West Kirby. Trains to and from Ellesmere Port run every 30 minutes (Monday to Sunday). This means that from Birkenhead Hamilton Square and around the loop under Liverpool, trains come at least every five minutes.
You can connect to other train services (not Merseyrail) at these stations:
- Bidston (on the West Kirby branch) for the Borderlands line to Wrexham. These trains are run by Transport for Wales.
- Chester for trains to Crewe and London Euston, Wrexham and Shrewsbury, the North Wales Coast line to Llandudno and Holyhead, and to Manchester (either via Warrington or via Northwich and Knutsford).
- Ellesmere Port for trains to and from Warrington (these trains don't run very often).
- Liverpool Lime Street for long-distance and regional trains to London Euston, Manchester, Birmingham, Wigan, Scotland, the Midlands, and Wales.
City Line Services
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The City Line is a name used by Merseytravel for trains that leave from the main platforms of Liverpool Lime Street railway station. These trains go to 26 stations within the Merseytravel network and also to places outside the Liverpool City Region. Merseytravel wants to make City Line services better by increasing how often trains run, adding new services, and investing money.
Even though other companies run the City Line trains, it's marketed as Merseyrail. This helps give the network a local identity and makes sure tickets and fares are the same across the system. The City Line is shown in red on signs and maps, and it uses the logo you see above.
The City Line is different from the Northern and Wirral lines because it is not operated by the Merseyrail company (Serco-Abellio).
The City Line covers parts of the Crewe–Liverpool line, the two Liverpool–Manchester lines, and the Liverpool–Wigan line within the Liverpool City Region. Two services, the Manchester via Warrington Central line and the Chester via Runcorn line, are not electric.
Most City Line trains are run by Northern. Other companies like TransPennine Express, Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, Transport for Wales, and West Midlands Trains also operate some services.
Train Services and Tickets
You can buy single or return tickets at staffed offices or from ticket machines. Merseyrail is also part of Merseytravel's wider ticket system, which includes the Mersey Ferries and local bus networks. Merseytravel uses a smartcard system called MetroCard for tickets, which works on Merseyrail too.
Here's how often trains run on the Merseyrail-operated Northern and Wirral Lines during typical weekdays (not busy times), as of May 2023:
| Northern Line | ||
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| Route | tph | Calling at |
| Hunts Cross to Southport | 4 |
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| Liverpool Central to Ormskirk | 4 |
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| Liverpool Central to Headbolt Lane | 3 |
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| Wirral Line | ||
| Route | tph | Calling at |
| Liverpool Central to New Brighton | 4 |
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| Liverpool Central to West Kirby | 4 |
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| Liverpool Central to Chester | 4 |
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| Liverpool Central to Ellesmere Port | 2 |
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Merseyrail Trains
Current Trains
Class 507 Trains
The Merseyrail network currently uses British Rail Class 507 electric trains. These trains, along with the Class 508 trains, replaced older trains from before World War II. There are 22 Class 507 trains still in service.
These trains were updated between 2002 and 2005. This cost £32 million and included new seats, new inside panels, new lighting, and a system to give passengers information. The outside of the trains also got a new look.
The last Class 508 trains had a special "farewell tour" on October 29, 2023, as they were being replaced.
Class 777 Trains
On January 28, 2020, the first of 53 new Class 777 trains arrived. These trains were built by a Swiss company called Stadler Rail. The new trains are designed specifically for the Merseyrail network. They are different from the older trains, which were built to a standard British Rail design.
The new trains have four connected carriages, which means they can carry more people than the old three-carriage trains. They also speed up and slow down faster, making journeys quicker. They are lighter and use electricity more efficiently, which means they use 20% less energy.
These trains are very flexible. They can run on the 750 V DC third rail electric system, or on overhead electric wires (25 kV 50 Hz AC), or even completely on batteries. As of April 2021, all trains are set up for the 750 V DC third rail system and have a smaller battery for moving around the depot.
There was some discussion about whether these new trains would operate without a guard, but an agreement was reached to make sure there is a guard on every train.
Merseytravel has the option to buy 60 more Class 777 trains. If they do, there would be 113 new trains in total. This could allow Merseyrail to extend services to new places like Helsby, Skelmersdale, or Wrexham. The company Stadler Rail Service also took over the maintenance of Merseyrail's trains and the depot at Kirkdale in October 2017.
The first Class 777 train started carrying passengers on the Northern Line on January 23, 2023. They were first used on the Kirkby route, then the Ormskirk route. The trains started running on the Wirral Line, Ormskirk, and Southport routes in late 2023.
Class 777 Battery Trains
The Class 777 trains can run using batteries that are on board. Each battery set can weigh up to 5 tonnes. The batteries can be charged at a special charging point or while the train is running on electric tracks. When the Headbolt Lane extension was opened, it was announced that one extra train was ordered, making it 53 trains in total. This was so some trains could be tested with batteries.
After the tests, it was announced in July 2021 that the trains could travel up to 20 miles (about 32 kilometers) without needing to recharge. These battery-powered trains now run to Headbolt Lane station in Kirkby. This technology means that trains could potentially serve routes to places like Wrexham, Preston, and Wigan in the future, even if those tracks aren't electrified.
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Carriages | Routes operated | Built | In service | |
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| mph | km/h | ||||||||
| 507 |  |
EMU | 75 | 120 | 15 | 3 |
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1978–1980 | 1978–present |
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| 777 METRO | |
EMU BEMU |
53 (38 units accepted for service) | 4 |
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2018–2021 | 2023–present | ||
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Past Trains
The very first trains on the Merseyrail lines were the Class 502s on the Northern Line and the Class 503s on the Wirral Line. The Class 502s were removed by 1980, and the Class 503s by 1985.
From 1978 and 1979, 33 Class 507 and 43 Class 508 trains were introduced. Since the 1990s, some Class 508s were no longer needed and were moved to other train companies. Some Class 507 and 508 trains were also removed from service after accidents. In 2022, more of these older trains started to be removed as the new Class 777s arrived.
The table below shows trains that have been removed from service since 2022.
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Carriages | Number | Routes operated | Built | Withdrawn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||||
| 507 | |
EMU | 75 | 120 | 3 | 18 |
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1978–1980 | 2022-2023 |
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| 508 | .jpg) |
EMU | 75 | 120 | 3 | 27 |
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1979–1980 | 2022-16 January 2024 |
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Train Depots
The electric trains are kept and maintained at Stadler's maintenance depot in Kirkdale and at Birkenhead North TMD. Small repairs and cleaning are done at Kirkdale, while bigger repairs are done at Birkenhead. These roles will switch once the new Class 777 trains fully replace the old ones. Other depots at Hall Road and Birkenhead Central were closed in 1997. The Birkenhead Central depot might reopen in the future.
There are also two other places near Southport station where trains are kept: Southport Wall Sidings and Southport Carriage Holding Sidings.
Merseyrail History
Connecting Separate Railways
The Merseyrail system we know today was created by joining together lines from five older railway companies:
- The Mersey Railway (from Liverpool Central to Rock Ferry and Birkenhead Park)
- The Cheshire Lines Committee railway (from Liverpool Central to Hunts Cross)
- The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (from Liverpool Exchange to Kirkby, Ormskirk, and Southport)
- The Wirral Railway (from Birkenhead Park to New Brighton and West Kirby)
- The Birkenhead Joint Railway (from Rock Ferry to Hooton and Chester, and the Ellesmere Port branch).
The very first part of the system was the Mersey Railway, which opened in 1886. It ran from Liverpool James Street to Green Lane, Birkenhead, through the 1886 Mersey Railway Tunnel. This was one of the world's first underwater railway tunnels! The tunnel route was extended to Liverpool Central in 1890. A tunnel branch to Birkenhead Park was added in 1888 to connect with the Wirral Railway. The original line was extended to Rock Ferry in 1891 to connect with the line from Birkenhead Woodside to Chester.
The Mersey Railway became electric in 1903. This was the first time a steam railway was completely changed to electric power anywhere in the world. Then, the separate Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway line from Liverpool Exchange to Southport was electrified in 1904. This was the world's first electric railway connecting different towns. The former Wirral Railway lines to New Brighton and West Kirby became electric in 1937. This allowed trains to run directly into Liverpool through the Mersey Railway tunnel.
Creating Merseyrail
In the early 1960s, many railway lines were closed as part of the "Beeching Axe" plan. This included closing two of Liverpool's main train stations, Liverpool Exchange and Liverpool Central (High Level), and one in Birkenhead, Woodside Station. This left only one main station, Liverpool Lime Street, for all of Merseyside.
However, Liverpool City Council had a different idea. They wanted to keep the local train services and connect them into a regional electric train network. They planned to do this by building new tunnels under the centres of Liverpool and Birkenhead. This new network would make it easy to travel around Merseyside and give people access to Lime Street station. It would also move local trains underground in the city centre, freeing up platforms at Lime Street for longer-distance trains. This plan was approved, and Merseyrail was created.
The Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority (later called Merseytravel) was formed in 1969. It became responsible for the local train lines that would become part of the new Merseyrail network. At that time, the lines from Liverpool Exchange, Liverpool Central Low Level, Liverpool Central High Level, and Liverpool Lime Street stations were all separate. The existing electric and diesel lines chosen for the first stage of Merseyrail were named the 'Northern Line', 'Wirral Line', and 'City Line'.
To create this new network, four big construction projects were planned:
- Loop Line: A tunnel to extend the Wirral lines in a loop around Liverpool's city centre.
- Link Line: A tunnel to connect the lines north and south of Liverpool city centre.
- Edge Hill Spur: Reusing the Wapping Tunnel to connect the east of the city to the central underground sections.
- Outer Rail Loop: A train loop around the outer suburbs of the city using existing lines.
Only the first two projects were built, creating the fully electric Northern and Wirral Lines. The last two were cancelled later. This meant the City Line was not fully connected to the underground network. Since then, Merseytravel has supported the Merseyrail brand at stations and paid British Rail to use Merseyrail colors on local trains.
The Loop and Link Project
The major engineering work to create the Northern and Wirral lines was called the 'Loop' and 'Link' Project. It involved building two tunnels under Liverpool's city centre. The main work happened between 1972 and 1977. Another project, the Edge Hill Spur, was planned to connect the City Lines to the city centre underground network, but it was cancelled due to budget cuts.
The Loop Line (Wirral Line)
The Loop Line is a single-track tunnel that goes in a loop under Liverpool's city centre. It serves the Wirral Line branches. It was built to allow more trains and give Wirral Line passengers more choices for destinations, including Liverpool's business and shopping areas and the main Lime Street station. This loop also gave Wirral residents direct access to a main station after the Woodside terminal station in Birkenhead was closed.
Trains from Wirral come through the original Mersey Railway tunnel and enter the loop under Mann Island in Liverpool. They continue clockwise through James Street, Moorfields, Lime Street, and Central, then return to the Wirral via James Street station. The loop tunnel allows passengers on the Wirral Line to change to the Northern Line at Moorfields and Central stations.
The Link Line (Northern Line)
The Link Tunnel was built to connect the separate urban lines north and south of the city, creating one continuous north-south line called the Northern Line. A large part of the Northern Line also helped complete the western section of a planned double-track electric train line that would circle the city's outer suburbs, called the 'Outer Rail Loop'. However, the eastern part of the Outer Rail Loop was never built due to budget cuts.
The Link Line tunnel is a double-track tunnel that connects two lines: one running south from the city centre to Hunts Cross, and another running north from the city centre to Southport, with branches to Ormskirk and Kirkby. This created one continuous line, the Northern Line. The line gives direct access from the north and south of Liverpool to the shopping and business areas in the city centre through two underground stations, Liverpool Central and Moorfields. Both of these stations also connect with the Loop Line (Wirral Line extension). The Northern Line essentially creates a north-south connection, allowing passengers to travel from the south to the north of the city, and vice versa, through Liverpool city centre.
The current Northern Line underground station at Liverpool Central was originally the Mersey Railway's end station at Liverpool Central Low Level. Part of the original 1880s tunnel between James Street and Central stations was used to form the Link Tunnel. The rest of that tunnel is used for moving trains between the Northern and Wirral Lines and for a siding when the Loop Tunnel is not working. This part of the tunnel is not used by passengers.
Expanding the Network (1977 – Present)
After the Loop and Link project, Merseyrail continued to expand, electrify lines, and open new stations. This built on the better connections and increased capacity that the new tunnels provided.
Walton to Kirkby
On April 30, 1977, Liverpool Exchange station closed as part of the Link tunnel project. This tunnel created the electric Merseyrail north-south line, the Northern Line. Liverpool Exchange was the end station for the northern Liverpool to Manchester route via Wigan Wallgate.
The Link tunnel under Liverpool's city centre created the through Northern Line. The nearby Moorfields underground station, which serves the Northern and Wirral Lines, replaced Liverpool Exchange. Because diesel trains couldn't operate in the underground stations and tunnels for safety reasons, trains from Wigan Wallgate that used to end at Liverpool Exchange were temporarily stopped at Sandhills station, which is the last station above ground before the tunnel.
A year later, in 1978, a short section of line from Walton to Kirkby was electrified. This extended the Merseyrail network, creating a Northern Line branch that ended at Kirkby and allowed for train changes there. The northern Liverpool to Manchester route was split into two parts: electric and diesel. The diesel Wigan service that used to end at Sandhills was shortened to Kirkby. Merseyrail electric trains and Northern Rail diesel trains use opposite ends of the same platform at Kirkby. Merseyrail and Northern Rail trains are usually timed to meet, making it easy to change trains.
Liverpool Central to Garston
In 1978, the Northern Line was extended south from Liverpool Central to Garston. This was possible by making the tunnel from Central High Level (from Garston) go down into the lower level tunnel (from the other end of Central Low Level), forming one continuous tunnel. This connection was planned when the Mersey Railway was extended to Central from James Street in the 1890s.
The diesel line from Liverpool Central High Level to Gateacre in the south of the city was closed in 1972. When it reopened under the Merseyrail brand, the electric line didn't go all the way to Gateacre. It ended three stations closer to the city centre, at Garston.
Garston to Hunts Cross
This short extension of the electric Merseyrail line at the southern end of the Northern Line opened in 1983. It made it easier for passengers to change between Merseyrail Northern Line services and Merseyrail City Line and main line services from Lime Street. The reopened line went under the West Coast Main Line Liverpool branch at Allerton. However, it had to cross the southern Manchester line via Warrington at ground level, which could affect how many trains could run.
Rock Ferry to Hooton, Chester, and Ellesmere Port
Rock Ferry railway station had been the end station for Wirral Line services since the Mersey Railway was extended there in 1891. Passengers going to Chester and Helsby would change trains at this station from the electric service to main line trains (steam and diesel). Rock Ferry became one of the end stations for the Merseyrail Wirral Line. In 1985, the line from Rock Ferry to Hooton was electrified and became part of the Wirral Line. Hooton then became a new end station.
Hooton is a junction station where the line to Helsby (via Ellesmere Port) branches off the main Chester line. The line from Hooton to Chester was electrified in 1993, making Chester an end station of the Wirral Line. The line from Hooton to Ellesmere Port was electrified in 1994 and also became part of the Wirral Line, making Ellesmere Port another end station.
Kirkby to Headbolt Lane
In 2023, Headbolt Lane replaced Kirkby as the end station of the Kirkby/Headbolt Lane Line. This expansion was special because it was the first time BEMU (battery electric multiple unit) trains were used for passenger services in the UK. There are no electric tracks past Kirkby, so the trains rely completely on their batteries for this section.
New Stations
New stations were built on the Merseyrail network, expanding where the system could go. These include:
- Bache (1983)
- Bromborough Rake (1985)
- Overpool (1988)
- Eastham Rake (1995)
- Brunswick (1998)
- Conway Park (1998)
- Maghull North (2017)
- Headbolt Lane (2023)
Liverpool South Parkway opened in 2006. It's an interchange station where you can change between the Merseyrail Northern Line (from Liverpool Central to Hunts Cross) and the City Line (from Liverpool Lime Street to Runcorn and Warrington Central), as well as main line services. The station also has a bus terminal and a large car park, with frequent bus services to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The old Garston station closed when this new station opened.
Future Plans for Merseyrail
There have been many ideas for how to make the Merseyrail network bigger. In August 2014, Merseytravel shared details of a 30-year plan for the network.
Some ideas would extend the network beyond the current Liverpool City Region. Others would use old railway lines or former tracks within the area. In November 2016, details about the next set of Merseyrail trains were announced. If trains that can run beyond the current third-rail DC network are chosen, then many expansions could happen without needing to electrify the entire new route. The new Class 777 trains can run on non-electric tracks, making these plans more possible.
In July 2021, the metro-mayor of the Liverpool City Region announced that special battery-electric Class 777 trains would operate on Merseyrail, extending the network. He said, "This capability means they could eventually provide a direct service from as far as Preston and Wrexham."
The Rail Strategy published in 2020 mentions other possibilities:
- Extending the Merseyrail network to Shotton (and possibly to Wrexham).
- Extending the Merseyrail network to Skelmersdale (and possibly to Wigan Wallgate).
- Extending the Merseyrail network to Burscough Junction (and possibly to Preston).
Proposed New Stations
Liverpool Baltic Station
The old St James railway station, which is no longer used, is located in the Baltic Triangle area. It closed in 1917. The station is in a deep cutting on the active Northern Line tunnel section between Liverpool Central Station and Brunswick Station.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced in August 2019 that they planned to use part of a £172 million funding package to reopen St James Station in Liverpool City Centre.
In 2020, investments and land purchases moved the idea of a station at the St James site forward. The plan for the Baltic Triangle area includes a new railway station there.
In April 2022, after a public vote, the new station was officially named Liverpool Baltic station.
Vauxhall Station
In its 30-year plan from 2014, Merseytravel mentioned the possibility of a new station between Moorfields and Sandhills in the Vauxhall area on the Northern Line. A station here would serve the new Everton F.C. stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, which is close to the Northern Line.
Battery Train Trials and Extensions
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's Long Term Rail Strategy document from October 2017 said that trials of new Merseyrail battery trains would happen in 2020. The goal was to extend the electric network onto tracks that are not electrified. Several lines were chosen for these trials. The Merseyrail Class 777 electric trains can run on non-electrified tracks, which means these extensions could happen without the high cost of electrifying the entire new route.
The lines chosen for the trials are:
- Ellesmere Port to Helsby: The plan mentions testing new Merseyrail battery trains to include the 5.2-mile (8.4 km) stretch of track from Ellesmere Port to Helsby interchange station into the Merseyrail network. If successful, Helsby could become one of the end stations of the Wirral Line, replacing Ellesmere Port. This would bring Stanlow and Thornton and Ince and Elton stations into the network.
- Ormskirk to Preston: The document also mentioned including Preston in the Merseyrail network by extending the Merseyrail Northern Line over 15 miles (24 km) from Ormskirk to Preston interchange station. The goal was to make Preston one of the end stations of the Northern Line, bringing Burscough Junction, Rufford, and Croston stations into the Merseyrail network. The document stated that using battery-powered Merseyrail trains might make this project more affordable.
In July 2021, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced that the trial was successful. The new trains could travel up to 20 miles (32 km) on their batteries. In 2023, battery trains started running to the new Headbolt Lane railway station from Kirkby.
Many ideas to electrify lines and add them to the Merseyrail network have been suggested over the years. However, in 2017, the Department for Transport said that lines in Britain would only be electrified when absolutely necessary. Trains that can use different power sources (like battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and diesel engines) are now preferred.
Merseytravel bought Class 777 trains with battery-electric technology. The successful trials mean that future full electrification of tracks might not be needed. To achieve the goals of the Liverpool City Region's Long Term Rail Strategy, Merseytravel wants to extend the network beyond its current boundaries. Places like Skelmersdale, Wrexham, and Warrington are targets. Many lines that were proposed for electrification are now being considered for battery-electric operation.
Headbolt Lane to Wigan
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In 1977, the Liverpool to Kirkby section of the Liverpool-to-Bolton route became electric and part of Merseyrail. Kirkby became the end station of the Northern Line Kirkby branch. The old through service to Bolton was split into two. Passengers traveling further had to change at Kirkby from the Merseyrail electric network to the Northern Rail diesel network for journeys to Wigan and Bolton.
The line from Kirkby to the Headbolt Lane station uses Class 777 hybrid electric/battery trains. They run only on battery power from Kirkby to Headbolt Lane.
Electrifying the track from Kirkby and extending the Northern Line to Wigan Wallgate was a long-term goal for Merseytravel in 2014. This extension was identified by Network Rail as a route where electrification would allow new passenger services. The plan gained momentum in March 2015. The use of hybrid battery trains makes the extension to Wigan easier, as it avoids expensive electrification by using battery power from Headbolt Lane to Wigan.
Ormskirk to Preston
Electrifying the line from Ormskirk to the interchange station at Preston has been considered. This would bring back the most direct route between Liverpool and Preston, which is one of Merseytravel's long-term goals. However, in 2008, Network Rail said the benefits didn't justify the cost at that time. Still, the idea continued to be mentioned. In 2020, Merseyrail tested battery-electric trains on this section of track to provide a Liverpool to Preston service.
Bidston to Wrexham
The Borderlands Line runs north-south from Bidston to Wrexham Central. It is operated by Transport for Wales using diesel trains on non-electric tracks. There have been several proposals to electrify parts or all of this line over the years, but they have all been rejected. The current idea is to use battery-electric trains on this line. In March 2015, Network Rail suggested using battery-powered trains for the Borderlands line. This would avoid full electrification and provide a cheaper way to connect to the electric Birkenhead and Liverpool sections of the Wirral Line.
KeolisAmey Wales, the previous operator, and Transport for Wales announced in 2018 that they planned to use updated Class 230 metro trains. These trains would use electric motors powered by on-board batteries, with a diesel generator to charge them. These new trains would serve the line between Wrexham and Bidston. This plan has put full electrification of the line on hold. Ken Skates, the Welsh Economy Secretary, said that the Welsh government was talking with Merseytravel about running a direct service from Wrexham to Liverpool. This goal was repeated in July 2021. Steve Rotheram, the Liverpool City Region metro-mayor, wants to operate Merseyrail Class 777 battery-electric trains on the Borderlands Line.
Hunts Cross to Warrington
In 1973, the Strategic Plan for the North West (SPNW) suggested that the Liverpool to Warrington line would be electrified and become part of the Merseyrail Northern Line by 1991, making Warrington Central an end station. In March 2015, electrifying the line from Liverpool to Manchester via Warrington Central was given high priority. The Liverpool City Region's Long Term Rail Strategy aims to extend the network to Warrington, using the new Class 777 trains to make this possible.
Southport to Wigan
The line from Southport to Wigan has been identified by Network Rail as a route where electrification, along with extending electrification from Ormskirk to Preston and bringing back the Burscough Curves, would allow new passenger services. In March 2015, electrifying the line from Southport to Salford Crescent via Wigan was given high priority.
Ellesmere Port to Helsby
Helsby is an interchange station on the Chester to Warrington Bank Quay and Ellesmere Port to Helsby lines. Adding the line from Ellesmere Port to Helsby to Merseyrail would create a Liverpool to Helsby service. This would make it easy to change from Merseyrail to all stations on the Chester to Warrington line. The Ellesmere Port to Helsby route is a "long-term goal" in Merseytravel's rail strategy. In 2020, Merseyrail tested new Class 777 battery/electric trains on this section of track. The results might show that the network can be expanded to Helsby without needing more electrification.
Other Battery Electric Extensions
Liverpool City Region metro-mayor Steve Rotheram said that the City Region plans to extend the network "so it reaches communities right across our city region and beyond." The Liverpool City Region map shows desired Merseyrail extensions, including a Chester to Runcorn East line. This line would use a section of the Chester to Warrington Bank Quay line, including the Helsby interchange station.
Reopening Lines and Tracks
Burscough Curves
The Burscough Curves were short sections of track that connected the Ormskirk to Preston Line with the Manchester to Southport Line. These curves allowed trains from Ormskirk to go directly to Southport (northbound) and trains from Preston to go west to Southport (southbound). The last regular passenger trains used these curves in 1962, and the tracks were later removed. Bringing back the Burscough Curves would allow direct Preston-Southport and Ormskirk-Southport services, offering another route from Liverpool to Southport via Ormskirk. Network Rail has suggested that a plan for the Burscough Curves should be developed further.
In a parliamentary discussion on April 27, 2011, the Burscough Curves were a main topic. The transport minister wanted to meet with former Southport MP John Pugh about bringing the curves back. Merseytravel's latest Long Term Strategy puts the reopening of the curves in Network Rail's future plans.
The new Class 777 Merseyrail trains have been tested for battery-electric operation. This means they could potentially be used on the Burscough Curves. The introduction of battery trains on the Merseyrail network might make the case for reopening the Burscough Curves stronger. If this happens, Northern Line trains could travel from Ormskirk to Southport, creating two routes from Liverpool to Southport. If this plan is realized, Burscough Junction, Burscough Bridge, New Lane, Bescar Lane, and Meols Cop stations might become part of the Merseyrail network.
Edge Hill to Bootle
This line, also known as the Canada Dock Branch line or the Bootle Branch line, is not electrified. It runs from Edge Hill Junction in the east of the city in a long curve to the container terminal north of the city. The last passenger trains on this line were removed in 1977. Since it's the only line into Liverpool docks, it's constantly used for freight to the Seaforth Container Terminal.
There have been many suggestions to electrify this line and reopen it for passengers. This would allow stations along its route to reopen, such as Spellow, Walton & Anfield, Breck Road, Tuebrook, Stanley, and Edge Lane.
Network Rail looked into options for the Canada Dock Branch in 2009 but decided that the expected benefits didn't justify the investment.
However, the Department for Transport's rail electrification document in July 2009 stated that the route to Liverpool Docks would be electrified using overhead wires. This is the Bootle Branch line, as it's the only line into Liverpool docks. The document said:
- 70. Electrification of this route will offer electric haulage options for freight.
- There will be an alternative route to Liverpool docks for electrically-operated freight trains, and better opportunities of electrified access to the proposed freight terminal at Parkside near Newton-le-Willows.
This electrification was not listed in the initial plans up to 2016. This delay might affect how efficient Liverpool docks container terminal is, especially as it's being expanded. Local residents are campaigning for most containers to be transported by rail to reduce road traffic and pollution, which could increase rail traffic even more. This delay in electrification might also delay any plans for passenger use of the line.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Long Term Rail Strategy document from October 2017 stated:
- A long term proposal which will need to be considered alongside the developing freight strategy for the region and the expansion of the Port of Liverpool. The proposal envisages the introduction of passenger services which will operate from the Bootle Branch into Lime Street. An initial study is required to understand fully the freight requirements for the line and what the realistic potential for operating passenger services over the line is.
In December 2019, it was announced that Liverpool City Council had asked for a study to see if it would be possible to reopen the Canada Dock Branch line for passenger trains.
Skelmersdale Branch
Skelmersdale lost its passenger train service in 1956. The town grew significantly from the 1960s. Many ideas have been suggested over the years to connect Skelmersdale to the Merseyrail network.
In June 2009, the Association of Train Operating Companies suggested reopening the line from Ormskirk to Skelmersdale. This was part of a £500 million plan to open 33 stations on 14 lines that were closed during the Beeching Axe. The report suggested extending the line from Ormskirk railway station by laying 3 miles (4.8 km) of new single track along the old route towards Rainford Junction. This was estimated to cost around £31 million.
In December 2012, Merseytravel asked Network Rail to study different route options and costs for connecting to Skelmersdale. Merseytravel contributed £50,000, and West Lancashire Council contributed £100,000. In 2014, reopening a section of the Skelmersdale Branch from Upholland to Skelmersdale town centre was proposed. In January 2017, Lancashire County Council announced that the preferred location for the train station was the former Glenburn Sports College and Skelmersdale College's West Bank Campus.
In the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Long Term Rail Strategy document from October 2017, it was stated that Merseytravel was working with Lancashire County Council and Network Rail to plan extending the Merseyrail network from Kirkby to Skelmersdale, with electric third rail power being considered. The government promised in April 2020 that the Skelmersdale link would be built. However, in July 2022, the Department for Transport said no to the main business plan, making the project uncertain. Instead, the DfT suggested that better bus links with the Kirkby–Wigan train line would be a cheaper way to improve connections for Skelmersdale.
Outer Rail Loop
The Orbital Outer Rail Loop was part of the original Merseyrail plans from the 1970s. The route would circle the outer edges of Liverpool, mostly using existing railway lines. Liverpool city is shaped like a half-circle, with the city centre on the western edge next to the River Mersey. The western part of the loop would run parallel to the river through the city centre. The project started along with the creation of Merseyrail but was put on hold due to cost cuts. Only the western part of the loop was completed, which is now part of the current Northern Line.
The idea of using the former Cheshire Lines Committee's North Liverpool Extension Line through Liverpool's eastern suburbs as the eastern part of a rapid-transit loop around the city first came up before World War II. In the 1960s, during the planning for Merseyrail, this developed into the Outer Rail Loop plan. This was an electric rapid-transit passenger line circling the outer districts of the city by using new electric lines and a new tunnel under the city centre to connect lines north and south, completing the loop.
A key feature was that passengers on the main lines coming into Lime Street from the east and south could change to the Outer Loop at two parkway interchange stations. This would let them finish their journey to Liverpool suburbs without going into the city centre, which would also reduce pressure on Lime Street station. Liverpool South Parkway was one of these stations, opening thirty years after the initial idea. The Outer Loop would have connected the eastern suburbs of the city: Gateacre, Childwall, Broad Green, Knotty Ash, West Derby, Clubmoor, and Walton with the city centre.
The Outer Rail Loop project was cancelled in the late 1970s because of delays and cost overruns on the Loop (Wirral Line) and Link (Northern Line) projects, and local political opposition. Only the western part of the loop was built. The project was officially abandoned by Merseytravel in the 1980s. A lot of money was spent building a large bridge for the M62 motorway over the eastern section and building tunnels south of Liverpool Central station. The route is still mostly there, with bridges, but the eastern section is now mainly the Liverpool Loop Country Park, a walking and cycling trail.
The Outer Rail Loop would have had two tracks throughout and used the electric 750 V DC third rail system of the Merseyrail Electrics network.
Although no official plans have been made to bring the project back recently, the route is mostly protected. Local politicians sometimes call for the full project to be revived, or just the short section from Hunts Cross to Gateacre. The Gateacre service was the last to operate from the former Liverpool Central High Level Station before it closed in 1972.
Since the project was postponed, some planning documents have mentioned reopening the North Mersey Branch line, the northern part of the loop, to create a passenger link between Bootle and Aintree with stations to serve Ford and Girobank.
Edge Hill Spur (Reusing Tunnels)
In the 1960s and early 1970s, the Edge Hill Spur project was proposed to connect the east of the city with the central underground section. It would have extended the Merseyrail underground network from Liverpool Central Station to Edge Hill Station using existing freight tunnels. The project was dropped, but a junction and two tunnel entrances were built south of Central station to make it easier to build the Spur in the future, during the construction of the Northern Line tunnel.
Building the Spur would have connected the City Line branches in eastern Liverpool to the electric Merseyrail network and, importantly, to the underground section in Liverpool's city centre. This would have made the network more connected and integrated. The Spur would also have formed the central part of the proposed Outer Rail Loop, splitting the loop into two smaller loops. An important benefit was that local urban trains coming into the city from the east would go underground in the city centre. This would free up platform space at Lime Street main station for only mid- and long-distance trains.
The first and cheaper idea was to reuse the 1829 Wapping freight tunnel. This would involve two new single-track tunnels branching off the Northern Line tunnel at a new junction called Liverpool Central South Junction, south of Central Station. The Wapping Tunnel would have led to Edge Hill via the historic Cavendish cutting, built for the 1830 Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Access to the City Line would have been gained via a bridge east of Edge Hill Station over the main lines from Lime Street. This bridge has since been removed.
In the early 1970s, Liverpool City Council planners proposed a different plan, which was then adopted. This new route would allow a new underground station to be built to serve Liverpool University. It would extend the two connecting tunnels from Central Station in a large curve to the north, passing under the main Lime Street station approach and accessing Edge Hill via a section of the Waterloo/Victoria Tunnel. When it came out of this tunnel at the existing Edge Hill Station, the route would be on the north side of the main lines, so no bridge would be needed.
Even though permission was obtained to build this line under the 1975 Merseyside Metropolitan Railway Act, construction was postponed due to money cuts and political opposition. The east of Liverpool has faced many challenges since then. An attempt was made to revive the project in the mid-1980s, but it was found not to be financially possible.
After the Merseytram project was cancelled in 2006, ideas were considered to bring this project back. The route of the tunnels is currently protected. Further mentions of the project as a future option are made in MerseyTravel's 30-year plan.
Another proposal to bring back the Edge Hill spur project with a new station at Paddington Village was revealed in 2016 by the then Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson. This was part of a plan to extend Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter. A study to see if the Wapping Tunnel could be reopened was ordered and completed in May 2016. The report found that the Wapping Tunnel was in good condition, although it had some flooding, and would need some repair work. However, the idea of reopening the tunnel was possible.
Images for kids
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A Class 508 train at Birkenhead North railway station in 2014.
