Trains will soon be arriving in one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, after plans for the £100m Liverpool Baltic station were given the green light.
Liverpool City Council today (Tuesday 22nd April) approved plans for the new station which is expected to stimulate further development in Liverpool’s vibrant and growing Baltic Triangle digital, creative and entertainment district.
The station is part of Mayor Steve Rotheram’s vision to improve the public transport network across the Liverpool City Region and complements existing rail projects including a new £500m fleet of trains, accessibility improvements across the network and future plans for three more new stations at Daresbury (Halton), Woodchurch (Wirral) and Carr Mill (St Helens).
Major projects across the rest of the public transport network that are being progressed include a new Mersey Ferry, St Helens Interchange redevelopment, bus franchising and developing plans for bus rapid transit routes.
Work is set to begin on highways improvements at Liverpool Baltic station later this year before construction of the station begins in early 2026. The target date for the opening of the station is the end of 2027.
Successful planning permission follows significant support from a public consultation last summer. The station, set to be located on Merseyrail’s Northern Line, will serve one of the city’s most dynamic districts, that was named the 11th coolest neighbourhood in the world by Time Out magazine in 2023.
Rotheram said: “Planning permission was another major milestone for the Liverpool Baltic station scheme and I’m delighted we are now passed that and ready to get work underway.
“This is another step in our vision to build a fully integrated London-style transport system. We’re extending Merseyrail to more communities with future stations already planned in Daresbury, Woodchurch and Carr Mill. I believe good quality public transport is a right, not a privilege.
“For decades there were no new stations built on our network, so this is another major milestone in the development of the expansion of rail services in our region. It’s not just about improving connectivity – it’s about creating new opportunities, connecting our communities to jobs, education, and each other, and contributing to a healthier, greener Liverpool City Region.
“Investing almost £100 million at the heart of one of the UK’s most vibrant areas, will help to make this part of the city more accessible to all while easing congestion and helping us achieve our net-zero targets.”
With the Combined Authority setting an ambitious target to make the city region Net Zero by 2035, Liverpool Baltic station will help encourage people to get out of their cars and travel more by sustainable options, using public transport and active travel, as well as attracting more people to this up-and-coming area.
Passengers can look forward to step-free access from pavement to train, modern facilities, toilets and secure cycle storage as the station, named following a public vote, will connect to the city’s expanding active travel network.
To support this, improvements will also be made to highways and active travel links in the area around the station, along with enhancements to the public realm.
The development builds on the success of the £80m Headbolt Lane station, which opened in October 2023 in Kirkby. This station is served by pioneering battery-powered trains which have brought about the first extension to the Merseyrail network in a generation, with further growth planned.
The station is being funded via the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), dedicated to major transport projects across the city region.
