Plans in for Liverpool rail improvements

NETWORK Rail has submitted plans for a new section of railway near Huyton station as part of the £600m Northern Hub investment which promises to speed-up journey times between Liverpool, Manchester, Yorkshire and the North East.

Work is already underway to increase the number of tracks through Huyton and Roby from two to four in a bid to improve services between Liverpool and Manchester.

An application has been submitted to complete work on the fourth track on adjacent land occupied by a telephone exchange and bus station.

Planning permission is required to construct a new 240-metre section which will allow additional non-stopping services to run on the line without being held-up behind local stopping services and freight trains.

Martin Frobisher, area director of Network Rail, said: “The Northern Hub will transform the railway in the North of England. It will create space for up to 700 more trains every day which will boost capacity and provide better journey options for passengers. The plans at Huyton and Roby are a key part of this investment and will help to increase capacity on the line between Liverpool and Manchester.”

Subject to consent, the work is expected to be complete by the end of 2017.