Developments set to transform Lime Street

Artist's impressions of the Lime Street Gateway project, which should be completed in March 2010

The £35m renovation of Liverpool Lime Street station will be completed next month, as a further £530m project has been revealed.

Construction work on the Lime Street Gateway, at the front of the station, will finish in March and the new entrance will be officially unveiled in April.

The new design will improve accessiblity to the station and involved demolishing the nearby Concourse House, long considered an eyesore.

Alistair Macdonald, Senior Development Manager of
Liverpool Vision, said: “Lime Street Station and the area
surrounding it is arguably the most important gateway to
Liverpool city centre.

“Each year over 17m passengers use the station, which
also serves as a major interchange for local and regional
transport, with links to the Merseyrail network and bus
services across the city – including a direct connection
with the airport – and the region.

"For many people this area will be their first impression of
the city and it’s vital that it creates the right impact."

Network Rail have also now announced the Northern Hub project, which will link Liverpool to other major cities in the North. The city will have a direct link to Bradford and Halifax for the first time, with journey times to other cities cut by up to 40 minutes. Trains to Manchester will be available every 15 minutes.

Louise Ellman MP, Chairman of the Transport Select Committee, said: “The committee has been arguing the case for investment in the North, and I am glad that we are now starting to see results.

“These improvements to the North’s rail network are a fundamental part of the North’s future economic growth. Ultimately it is about jobs and the economic strength of the North.”

A decision will be made by the Government in 2012 and it has been recommended that this project should be made the funding priority between 2014 and 2019.

These plans are separate to the ongoing electrification of the line between Liverpool and Manchester, which will cut the journey time almost in half and should be ready in 2013.

Lime Street Gateway under construction