I was fortunate enough to have the day off on Monday, and since I was heading to Liverpool South Parkway anyway, it seemed a great excuse to stop off at Liverpool Central for five minutes.
On arriving at the Northern Line platforms, I remember fellow passengers saying to each other "They haven't done the walls though have they?". Which was pretty much what I was also thinking.
The first thing that struck me was how few passengers were using the station. I've never seen it so quiet. I can only put it down to most passengers still using Moorfields out of habit. I was there at 09:05.
Overall, it's a great job they've done on the lighting and the platform flooring itself. It's much brighter than it was before. Also crucially the removal of some of the plant rooms to allow for more platform space. In addition, the removal of the old fittings which I understand were not safe in the event of a fire.
So the important things have indeed been done.
But on a cosmetic level, I know now I'm not the only who was expecting those old "corrugated" wall panels to be replaced with something more bright and modern looking.
Perhaps I expected this after seeing what they had done to the Wirral Line platform, where it does look pretty clinical, but at least brand-spanking new. I would have thought the walls of Northern Line platforms deserved a similar look and feel.
For six months out of action I can certainly understand it if some people are underwhelmed by the general appearance, but on the other hand I understand the necessity of the resultant capacity increase and safety improvements.
The one thing that did impress me though, on the way back was the interconnecting escalator between Northern and Wirral line platforms, the dated yellow look has gone and the panelling is now pure white, very bright and shiny. (like the other escalators) And for the moment at least, spotless.
