Green light given for new £80m rail station at Headbolt Lane in Kirkby

Work is set to begin on construction of a new rail station at Headbolt Lane in Kirkby, after planning permission was granted for the £80m scheme this week.The decision was made at the Knowsley Council Planning Committee on December 9. Work will begin at the site in January 2022, with the opening of the station planned for spring 2023.The scheme is being delivered by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in partnership with Knowsley Council, Network Rail, Merseyrail and Northern. Funding for the scheme has come from the Transforming Cities Fund.The new station plans include:Step-free access throughout the stationA bus interchangeCycle parkingLinks to local cycling and walking networksPassenger waiting facilities and toiletsApproximately 300 park and ride spacesThe full scheme includes the extension of the Merseyrail network beyond the existing Kirkby station and will see Merseyrail services run into the new station. Northern services from Wigan and Manchester will also operate to and from the new three-platform station.It will be the first station to benefit from battery technology on the new trains for the Merseyrail network, removing the need to extend the third rail beyond the existing Kirkby station.The scheme is also designed to support future plans to build a new rail link to Skelmersdale, on which the combined authority is working closely with Lancashire County Council, West Lancashire Borough Council and Network Rail to support.The new station is a key part of Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s plans to deliver a London-style integrated transport system for the city region, which aims to bring together bus, rail, ferry and active travel in one simple, affordable and easy to use transport network.It is also aligned to Knowsley Council’s plans to improve transport access in the area for residents while also supporting workers and visitors to one of Europe’s largest employment sites – Knowsley Business Park.