UK: Work is set to begin on construction of a station at Headbolt Lane as part of an initiative which will see Merseyrail Stadler Class 777 electric multiple-units use battery power to run around 2 km beyond the end of the 750 V DC third rail network at Kirkby, where Merseyrail trains currently terminate end-on to Northern trains from Wigan.
Planning permission for the £80m scheme was granted by Knowsley Council’s Planning Committee on December 9, and site works are scheduled to begin in January for opening in spring 2023. Headbolt Lane will become the new interchange between Northern and Merseyrail services.
The three-platform station will have step-free access, a bus interchange, cycle parking, links cycling and walking networks, passenger waiting facilities, toilets and 300 park and ride spaces.
The project is being undertaken by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in partnership with Knowsley Council, Network Rail and operators Merseyrail and Northern, with funding from the Transforming Cities Fund.
The project will enable transport authority Merseytravel to evaluate the performance of multiple-units using battery power, which in the longer term could be an option to enable the extension of Merseyside’s suburban rail services to destinations such as Wrexham and Preston on routes currently served by DMUs. Battery traction is also envisaged for a proposed branch diverging from the Kirkby – Wigan line to serve Skelmersdale, for which provision is being made in the station works at Headbolt Lane.
