News

Work to transform the second of three platforms at Moorfields station will take place from 4 January 2016, with platform 1 (southbound, Northern line) temporarily closing for refurbishment. 

'While we appreciate that the temporary closure of a platform is not ideal for passengers, we are sure that people will like the refreshed, lighter and brighter environment and see a real difference once it's finished next year.

Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde

Managing Director at Merseyrail

This means that southbound trains for Liverpool Central and Hunts Cross will not stop at Moorfields station from that day throughout the closure. The platform is expected to re-open in April 2016. The rest of the station will remain open.

The station is the latest on Merseyside to be completely refurbished as part of a wider £40m programme by Network Rail to provide a better railway for the increasing number of people travelling by train.

Improvements will be made to platforms, walkways, and the upper and lower concourse areas. There will be new flooring, fresh enamel cladding on the walls and brighter lighting, which will give a cleaner, more airy and less cluttered environment, updating the original 1970s finishes.

Nine of the station’s escalators will also be refurbished to improve their reliability and lifespan. They currently carry 6.5 million passengers a year, a number which is predicted to continue to increase.

Network Rail is spending £12m to upgrade the station’s platforms and escalators to provide passengers with an improved facility to serve Liverpool's main business district.

The first platform to be refurbished (Wirral line, platform 3) re-opened in August this year. Work on the third and last platform (northbound, Northern line, platform 2) will also take place in 2016.

Chris Littler, area manager for Network Rail, said: “’The upgrade of the first platform has made a huge difference to the look and feel of the station. Its modern look will be replicated to the remaining two platforms, completing the upgrade of the underground stations in the Merseyside area.

‘The investment is part of our Railway Upgrade Plan to provide passengers with a better railway and modern stations in Merseyside that they can rely on and be proud of.

‘Again we have carefully planned the work with Merseyrail and Merseytravel to limit disruption to passengers as much as possible and, by closing one platform at a time, we are able to keep the station open and keep all trains running. I thank passengers for their patience while we complete this work.’

Councillor Liam Robinson, chair of Merseytravel said: ‘With passenger numbers using Moorfields set to increase, these improvements will provide an impressive gateway, making the station much more attractive and more accessible now and in the future.’

Alternative travel options for passengers who usually use Moorfields Northern Line Platform 1 are detailed here.