Liverpool Central Closure

First class · 4 Sep 2011

Liverpool Central capacity enhancement work will now start in October 2011, with a full closure between April 2012 and September 2012 as part of a £20million (long overdue) refurbishment.

Kirkby/Ormskirk trains to terminate and turnback at Moorfields
Wirral trains to pass Liverpool Central
Hunts Cross services to pass Liverpool Central

-Rail Replacement buses to run around the City Centre at regular intervals.

Press release tomorrow.

RailUK Forums

WatcherZero · 5 Sep 2011

I saw a travel warning yesterday that there would be a long closure with services turning at Moorfield but never wondered why, Doh!

Still this work has been on the radar for a longtime, surprised their giving such short notice of next years works though.

Xenophon PCDGS · 5 Sep 2011

It received a mention on the BBC North West News this evening.

ukrob · 5 Sep 2011

What will actually be done at Central?

For £20 million have they gone for the most expensive option of removing the roof supporting pillars on the Northern Line platforms to increase circulating space?

Gareth · 5 Sep 2011

It's about time. These underground stations really need some TLC. As far as I'm aware, the big work will be on the concourse and the Northern Line platforms at Central. They mention widening the platform, which will surely involve replacing the lift motor and the ceiling support columns, meaning a new ceiling.

The Wirral Line plaftom, and with the other four underground stations will recieve much smaller, mostly aesthetic work, such as replacing the existing wall/floor fittings, which haven't changed since the modernization of the Merseyrail system some four decades or so ago.

The big test will be at Moorfields, which will take up the vast majority of would-be Central-bound passengers on the Northern Line. And considering Moorfields itself can struggle with capacity at busy periods and especially during special events in the city, it's something to keep an eye on.

First class · 6 Sep 2011

ukrob said:
What will actually be done at Central?

For £20 million have they gone for the most expensive option of removing the roof supporting pillars on the Northern Line platforms to increase circulating space?

Liverpool Central is getting another array of ticket barriers upstairs, either a bigger or additional lift (in roughly the same place). Escalators are getting new panels, as are the walls and doors etc, (stainless steel).

New lighting, new tunnel lining, some motor rooms getting knocked down on the Link platforms 1+2.

New tiled flooring to take up black rubber matting that has been down for years.

New staff accomodation block and car park.

bluenoxid · 6 Sep 2011

FC - has there been any public mention of the details of this refurb because I have found very little online. In fact, an Ant farting seems to be making more noise than this.

First class · 6 Sep 2011

bluenoxid said:
FC - has there been any public mention of the details of this refurb because I have found very little online. In fact, an Ant farting seems to be making more noise than this.

There's a video showing the concourse!

http://vimeo.com/15453934

ukrob · 6 Sep 2011

bluenoxid said:
FC - has there been any public mention of the details of this refurb because I have found very little online. In fact, an Ant farting seems to be making more noise than this.

It is in lots of local media, as well as on the BBC News website.

trainophile · 6 Sep 2011

Wirral trains to pass Liverpool Central
Hunts Cross services to pass Liverpool Central

Can someone explain what this means please? Not sure what you mean by "pass".

ukrob · 6 Sep 2011

Not stop.

trainophile · 7 Sep 2011

ukrob said:
Not stop.

But go through? Or detour round the loop? I'd assumed the whole place would be impassable while work is going on.

The Snap · 7 Sep 2011

trainophile said:
But go through? Or detour round the loop? I'd assumed the whole place would be impassable while work is going on.

No necessarily. As an example, Tottenham Court Road (Northern Line) on the London Underground has been closed for some time and trains still pass through at a reduced speed. A substantial metal fence has been erected along the platform edge to segregate the work area and the live railway. One would assume the same will be done at Liverpool Central until access is required to the track.

jopsuk · 7 Sep 2011

Quite. There may even be large periods where nothing is even happening at the platform, but with the concourse innaccesible to the public.

ukrob · 7 Sep 2011

Trains on the Northern Line couldn't detour around the loop anyway.

Poss Planner · 7 Sep 2011

The plan is to close the station; with work close to platform edge taking place during the nightly shut down period. Materials will be brought in & stockpiled on the platform in a couple of 29hr possessions Sun/Mon prior to work starting.

First class · 7 Sep 2011

Just to clarify, services are as follows:

[LVC Reversing Siding] Moorfields to Kirkby (Merseyside) (PASS Liverpool Central)
[LVC Reversing Siding] Moorfields to Ormskirk (PASS Liverpool Central)
Hunts Cross to Southport via Moorfields (PASS Liverpool Central)
Chester to Chester via Moorfields (PASS Liverpool Central)
Ellesmere Port to Ellesmere Port via Moorfields (PASS Liverpool Central)
West Kirby to West Kirby via Moorfields (PASS Liverpool Central)
New Brighton to New Brighton via Moorfields (PASS Liverpool Central)

I have also heard that a couple of unusual workings will also be made by Class 66 delivering some materials to site. These may be during a possession though.

ukrob · 7 Sep 2011

Surprised they will be using the reversing siding when they could just use the station (albeit empty) and reverse as normal, go straight back out for a few minutes dwell time at Moorfields where necessary.

Statto · 7 Sep 2011

Gareth said:
It's about time. These underground stations really need some TLC. As far as I'm aware, the big work will be on the concourse and the Northern Line platforms at Central. They mention widening the platform, which will surely involve replacing the lift motor and the ceiling support columns, meaning a new ceiling.

The Wirral Line plaftom, and with the other four underground stations will recieve much smaller, mostly aesthetic work, such as replacing the existing wall/floor fittings, which haven't changed since the modernization of the Merseyrail system some four decades or so ago.

The big test will be at Moorfields, which will take up the vast majority of would-be Central-bound passengers on the Northern Line. And considering Moorfields itself can struggle with capacity at busy periods and especially during special events in the city, it's something to keep an eye on.

The platform widening bit if it goes ahead is interesting, how are they going to carry that out, considering it's quite tight for space at the mo?

First class · 7 Sep 2011

Platform isn't being widened!

They are removing bits and pieces from the existing platform to allow greater space.

An additional bay platform is being considered for the next Control Period.

Statto · 7 Sep 2011

First class said:
Platform isn't being widened!

They are removing bits and pieces from the existing platform to allow greater space.

An additional bay platform is being considered for the next Control Period.

That makes more sense. My idea would be to build 2 new side platforms & demolish the island platforms at Central, however the cost will be the main problem

Gareth · 7 Sep 2011

First class said:
Platform isn't being widened!

Clumsy language by me. Vast parts of the platform are currently disected by the walls of the elevator shafts & lifts so it looks kinde like two side platforms. Once these are removed, the plaform will be seem 'widened' at these parts. On the whole, the platfrom should look a lot more spacious than currently, despite no actually exentions.

ukrob · 7 Sep 2011

Are the escalators being moved/replaced?

First class · 8 Sep 2011

ukrob said:
Are the escalators being moved/replaced?

Nope.

Internally they are quite new.

They will be refurbished with new panels and possible new machinery.

Have to stay in same place though.

I don't think it would be possible to fit new escalators, even if they wanted to, especially on the Wirral Line.

ukrob · 8 Sep 2011

I just mean the Northern Line platforms

Shame. Always thought it would be better if the up and down escalators where separated like at many Tube stations to reduce conflicting movements at the bottom of them.

mickey · 8 Sep 2011

ukrob said:
Shame. Always thought it would be better if the up and down escalators where separated like at many Tube stations to reduce conflicting movements at the bottom of them.

In Moscow they just have a long barrier at the bottom that effectively forces people to join the 'right' queue of people much further along - a cheaper option for the same thing. Only works where each escalator moves constantly in the same direction though, i.e. not at the Wirral Line part where operation is variable.

Incidentally, the Wirral Line often has two escalators going down on the first set and two going up on the second, causing no end of confusion for people (in either direction) trying to use the middle set. Is this intentional or just a sign that someone clueless is in charge?

trainophile · 9 Sep 2011

I've always assumed the extra escalator (at Moorfields anyway - I'm not familiar with that line at Central) is to allow for routine maintenance without there being no facility in either direction. Usually one or other of them is stationary, leaving just one moving in each direction.

I hope they are careful with checking for asbestos while the work is in progress if trains are still passing through, often with windows open. Could be a bit dodgy if there is any asbestos in the structure.

mickey · 9 Sep 2011

trainophile said:
I've always assumed the extra escalator (at Moorfields anyway - I'm not familiar with that line at Central) is to allow for routine maintenance without there being no facility in either direction. Usually one or other of them is stationary, leaving just one moving in each direction.

Yes, that's true, but at peak times it also means it's possible to run two in the same direction to allow more people to pass safely - standard practice in the transport world. The issue I was asking about is specifically where there are two sets with a 'mezzanine', at which the multiple operation is in opposite directions. I've lost count of the number of times I've gone down the second down escalator (i.e. the middle one) and headed straight for the same one in the second set only to find it moving the other way, hence my question.

trainophile said:
I hope they are careful with checking for asbestos while the work is in progress if trains are still passing through, often with windows open. Could be a bit dodgy if there is any asbestos in the structure.

The entire Mersey road tunnel is made of asbestos and no one seems to care about that!

ChrisTheRef · 9 Sep 2011

trainophile said:
I've always assumed the extra escalator (at Moorfields anyway - I'm not familiar with that line at Central) is to allow for routine maintenance without there being no facility in either direction. Usually one or other of them is stationary, leaving just one moving in each direction.

I hope they are careful with checking for asbestos while the work is in progress if trains are still passing through, often with windows open. Could be a bit dodgy if there is any asbestos in the structure.

In Moorfields, the middle escalator is usually off in an attempt to restrict the congestion at the barriers during peak time - so I'm told!

trainophile · 9 Sep 2011

mickey said:
The entire Mersey road tunnel is made of asbestos and no one seems to care about that!

Asbestos is "supposed" to be safe so long as it isn't disturbed. Major structural work on an underground station WILL disturb it!

Liverpool Central Closure

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