Construction work is set to start on the new station at Headbolt Lane in Kirkby, after planning permission was permitted for the £80m scheme. The resolution was made during the Knowsley Council Planning Committee held on Thursday 9 December. Work will start at the site in January 2022, with the station set to open in Spring 2023. The project is being delivered by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in partnership with Network Rail, Knowsley Council, Merseyrail and Northern. The scheme will be funded by Transforming Cities Fund.
The modern station plans include: a bus interchange, step-free access throughout the station, cycle parking, passenger waiting facilities and toilets, approximately 300 park and ride spaces, links to local cycling and walking networks. The project scope comprises the extension of the Merseyrail network beyond the former Kirkby station and will lead to Merseyrail services developed into the new station. Northern services between Wigan and Manchester will also be operating to and from the constructed three-platform station.
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The first to benefit from battery technology
The station is set to be the first benefiting from battery technology on the modern trains for the Merseyrail network, removing the need to extending the third rail beyond the former Kirkby station. The project is also designed to support future plans to construct a new rail link to Skelmersdale, on which the Combined Authority is working together with West Lancashire, Borough Council, Lancashire County Council and Network Rail to support.
The new station is a significant part of Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s objective to create a London-style integrated transport system in the Region, which intends to bring together bus, ferry, rail and active travel in one affordable, simple and easy to use transport network. It is also positioned to Knowsley Council’s aim to improve transport access in the region for residents while supporting workers and visitors to one of continent’s largest employment sites – Knowsley Business Park.