Headbolt Lane railway station

Headbolt Lane is a proposed new railway station in the Northwood area of Kirkby in Merseyside, North West England. The opening of a station in the area has been an objective of the local authority since 1972[2] and detailed plans have been under development since at least 2013.[1] Planning permission was granted in December 2021, with construction due to commence in January 2022. It is anticipated that the station will open in Spring 2023.[1]

Headbolt Lane
General information
LocationKirkby, Knowsley
England
Grid referenceSJ417999
Managed byMerseyrail
Transit authorityMerseytravel
Platforms3[1]
Key dates
2023Scheduled opening

Once opened, it is anticipated that the station would replace Kirkby as the interchange between the Merseyrail Northern Line and unelectrified Kirkby-Wigan line, currently operated by Northern Trains.[1]

History

Although the scheme was excluded from Merseytravel's priority list for Major Scheme Funding in 2013, they still included it in their 30-year plan, published in 2014.[3][4]

Although the station was initially planned to act as a new Merseyrail terminus, the Electrification Task force declared the Kirkby to Salford Crescent via Wigan line to be a Tier 1 priority for electrification in 2015[5][6] which, if followed through, might enable the extension of Merseyrail services beyond Headbolt Lane. A Merseyrail extension beyond the station might also occur if plans to re-establish a rail link to Skelmersdale that are being developed by Merseytravel and Lancashire County Council come to fruition.[7] In 2017, the two authorities commissioned an initial £5 million feasibility study into establishing the new rail link and an intermediate station at Headbolt Lane.[7] Initial estimates suggest that would cost around £300 million and would take up to a decade to deliver.[7]

As of December 2020, the proposed rail link to Skelmersdale remains under development[8] while plans to build a station at Headbolt Lane appear to be advancing more quickly. In August 2019, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced that part of an agreed £172m funding package for the region would be used to fund the construction of the new station.[2][9] The Combined Authority approved that the first £3.3 million of funding for the project in July 2020, before signing off a further £66 million in March 2021.[1]

The station is designed to be built with three fully accessible platforms with accommodation for future Merseyrail extension to Skelmersdale.[1][10] A 300 space car park and bus interchange is a part of the plan.[1]

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced in July 2021 that after a trial of a battery electric multiple unit (BEMU) version of the new Class 777, it will serve the new station on opening.[11] This will not require the line extension to Headbolt Lane to be electrified.

References
  1. Rand, Lisa (9 December 2021). "Kirkby to get new train station which will be 'UK first' after plans approved - Liverpool Echo". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 December 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. Lally, Kate (7 November 2019). "Kirkby will get new train station before the Baltic Triangle". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  3. "Final Prioritised Major Funding Applications" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  4. Shennan, Paddy (28 August 2014). "Merseytravel plan to open or reopen host of new stations". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  5. Rudgard, Olivia (5 March 2015). "Two Merseyside lines prioritised for electrification". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  6. "Place North West | Priority electrification routes sent to Government". Place North West. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  7. Houghton, Alistair (18 September 2017). "Skelmersdale rail link moves step closer as £5m funding revealed". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  8. Lopez, Jamie (8 December 2020). "Government expects to receive Skelmersdale plan in 2021 | InYourArea". InYourArea. Retrieved 8 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. Tyrrell, Nick (30 August 2019). "Merseyside set to get two new train stations and replacement ferries". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  10. "Kirkby Headbolt Lane station scheme moves a step closer with £3.3m funding secured and CGI images are unveiled".
  11. "Battery breakthrough will see Merseyrail network extended". 21 July 2021.
Preceding station National Rail Following station
  Planned services  
Kirkby   Merseyrail
Northern Line		   Terminus
Terminus   Northern Trains
Kirkby branch line		   Rainford
  Proposed future services  
Kirkby   Merseyrail
Northern Line		   Rainford



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