Green light for £80m Merseyside station

Enabling works will start in the New Year on the proposed new £80m Merseyrail train station on Headbolt Lane in Kirkby.Knowsley Council has granted planning permission for a new station which is planned to open by Spring 2023.The scheme is being delivered by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in partnership with Knowsley Council, Network Rail, Merseyrail and Northern.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.