Liverpool Lime Street Upgrade Phase 3 suggestions

[lfc2014uk]

After £140m upgrade to Liverpool Lime Street. I felt disappointed that the project didnt go far enough and the station can only handle an extra 3 trains an hour.

With the former platform one now sitting empty, my idea would be to:

1) Rebuild Northern Rail offices at the top of the platform by moving it further back and adding extra floors so not to lose sq footage.
2) Straighten the disused platform (0)
3) Tunnel veering off to the left coming out at the old Waterloo Tunnel entrance. The exisiting tunnel that only goes up half way to Edge Hill station before joining the main tunnel by extending it veering to the left and meeting up with the new tunnel.

4) Re-instating the missing bridge where the upper level meets the Manchester line and the West Coast Main Line by Edge Hill Depot

5) Finally by re-jigging track layout in this area.

If all these can be done then im sure Liverpool Lime Street could have a further 3 trains an hour.

Allowing new services such as Liverpool - Glasgow (bi-hourly) TPE, Liverpool - Cardiff (bi/hourly) TfW, Liverpool - Bristol (bi/hourly) XC

 

[ElectroSoldier]

Wouldnt you just be better off with a new tunnel bore for a line that starts at the buffer stops on the old platform 1, into a new bore that comes out inside the shunting tunnel that is on the north side of the cutting.

Reinstating the iron bridge over the Chat moss line from Viaduct Junctionis another matter that has legs if only we can CPO Wavertree tech park.

 

[507 001]

Sounds like a hell of a lot of money for very little benefit.

 

[ElectroSoldier]

It is now, if it had been part of the upgrade last year then maybe, otherwise we'll have to wait another 30 odd years for an upgrade.

 

[jamesst]

I'm more disappointed that the concourse still seems to be an utter mess. Still a very poor retail offering and lots of messy uneven flooring over by the higher numbered platforms.

 

[ElectroSoldier]

It does indeed look like a half arsed job, especially in 2019.
They did a better job of finishing off back in the 80s when they built the booking offices building at the end of P1-P6

 

[Camden]

I'm more disappointed that the concourse still seems to be an utter mess. Still a very poor retail offering and lots of messy uneven flooring over by the higher numbered platforms.

I noticed very unpleasant floodlights the other week too.

As I recall, there were grand plans to upgrade the interior of the building with a new supermarket and reconfiguration. Perhaps local politicians should ask Network Rail what happened to these.

Better still, the station should be in local hands. Perhaps including with "parking fees" for trains. Being able to charge train companies per minute for platform occupancy, cancellations and out of schedule occupancy would do wonders for exercising real local control.

I expect the area having rolled over regarding not having its own regional control centre rules this out though (unless all funds go to Manchester).

 

[hwl]

Being able to charge train companies per minute for platform occupancy, cancellations and out of schedule occupancy would do wonders for exercising real local control..

With "local control" being bill even larger amounts post delay attribution for (long distance) services not having enough recovery time...

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

My grumbles are the shabby nature of the retail areas under the clock (particularly Upper Crust), the continued lack of a cash machine (space ready near the Info Point but no ATM), and the size of the comedy lift down to the Merseyrail platform.
We're still waiting for the "new retailer" in the VT lounge basement.
Probably going to be a useless betting shop, as at Chester...
At least it's better than the "new" Manchester Victoria.

 

[M28361M]

the continued lack of a cash machine (space ready near the Info Point but no ATM)

Two NatWest ATMs have now been installed and working in that space. I first noticed them about two weeks ago, but not sure exactly when they were put in.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Two NatWest ATMs have now been installed and working in that space. I first noticed them about two weeks ago, but not sure exactly when they were put in.

That's good to know.
Over a year without...

 

[ElectroSoldier]

Putting that station in local control would without a doubt be a disaster of epic proportions!

It would just lead to TOCs terminating services up and down the line when running late as it costs less to terminate a service at Liverpool South and turn back from there to keep the return journey timetable rather than arrive in LIV late and incur more and more charges on the return leg.