Network Rail has announced that Liverpool Lime Street and Edge Hill stations will be closed on the weekend of 2nd & 3rd November as part of a signalling upgrade.
The upgrade is part of the Great North Rail Project and will see signalling controls being transferred to the new rail operating centre in Manchester from Edge Hill.
As trains run through Edge Hill station to Lime Street, trains cannot run on any of the lines and passengers will be able to get to/from Liverpool by replacement bus or by using Merseyrail via Liverpool South Parkway.
Edge Hill station was opened in 1830 and is the oldest passenger railway station in the world. The new upgrade means signallers can respond to any delays quicker and route trains faster and allows for more frequent trains.
Lime Street station was upgraded to the new signalling system during its £140m transformation between 2016 and 2018
A number of signalling areas have already been moved to the Manchester ROC, including Halton, Runcorn, Allterton, Speke and Garston.
What did the officials say?
Phil James, managing director of Network Rail's North West route, said:
“I know there is never a good time to close the railway, but for work as complex as this major signalling upgrade unfortunately it is unavoidable. The Great North Rail Project work at Edge Hill follows on from the success transferring control of several signalling areas in the Liverpool City Region last year, as part of our Weaver Wavertree upgrades.
“We've worked closely with train operators to make sure passengers can get to where they need to be during Lime Street's weekend closure. We're urging people to check www.nationalrail.co.uk to plan their alternative journey on 2 and 3 November.”
Cllr Liam Robinson, Transport Portfolio Holder at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said:
“Works like these are vital in making sure services are more reliable and keep our city region moving. We were very grateful for the patience shown by rail users during the Lime Street upgrade last year and we would advise them again to plan ahead and follow the advice given when making journeys over this weekend.
“Working together with our partners at Network Rail and the rail operators, we're making sure that the city region remains very much open for business during this short closure.”
Jason Webb, director of customer information at the Rail Delivery Group, said:
“This vital work will increase reliability and capacity, improving people's journeys to and from Liverpool. Network Rail and rail companies are working together to minimise disruption as the improvement work is carried out and we ask passengers to check before they travel.”
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