Update given on opening of new £100m Liverpool Baltic station

A new £100m Merseyrail station is set to be completed by “late” 2027, as the Liverpool City Region’s Metro Mayor has revealed a unique look at the site. As a consultation on the proposed Liverpool Baltic stop continues, Steve Rotheram has been one of the first to try a virtual reality walkthrough of the plans.

The redevelopment of the long-unused stop on the edge of the city centre was announced in 2022, with Mr Rotheram aiming to have passengers on the tracks by 2027. It is now believed the station, which will be located on the northern line, will open towards the end of that year.

Plans for Liverpool Baltic station include step-free access from the street to the train, passenger waiting facilities, fully accessible passenger toilets, monitored and secure cycle parking and connections to an enhanced local active travel network. The new station will serve the “coolest borough” in the UK – and the 11th coolest in the world – according to Time Out magazine. The name of the station was chosen by the public in an online vote in 2022, which saw more than three-quarters opt for Liverpool Baltic.

The virtual reality tour is part of a public consultation on the station scheme, which is running until Sunday 4 August. It can also be accessed on the project page and will also be used at the upcoming event at the FireFit Youth and Community Hub in Toxteth on Tuesday.

Information gathered from the consultation will be used to finalise the design ahead of planning application. Subject to approval, work is expected to begin on site in 2025, with the station scheduled to open by the end of 2027.

Mr Rotheram said: “Our plans for Liverpool Baltic station demonstrate our ambitions for the future of our network, with this virtual tour showing the level of quality we want to build for our residents. This station will be located in an area that is growing in popularity, and this has huge potential to drive economic growth in and around the Baltic.

“Liverpool Baltic is the first of many new stations that are part of my commitment to ‘Merseyrail for All’, connecting communities that are currently not connected by rail to take advantage of the growth and opportunities in our area.”

Neil Grabham, Merseyrail’s managing director, added: “It’s really exciting to be able to share the plans for the new Liverpool Baltic station as part of these public consultation events, alongside colleagues from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Liverpool City Council and Network Rail. I’m sure everyone who takes part in this consultation will be impressed by the plans for the new station.

“Our teams are available to speak to anyone who has questions or feedback as part of the consultation at these events. Once built, the new station at Liverpool Baltic will have a hugely positive impact on the whole area.”

Lynn Haime, Chief Executive of Baltic Creative CIC, said: “We are excited to see the progress on Liverpool Baltic station and get a glimpse of what it will look like. We have campaigned for this for many years as an important addition to the area that will not only support the existing business community but also drive future growth.

“The need for this station reflects how significant the Baltic Triangle has become as a location, and regular surveys of our creative and digital community consistently show that it would be well used and warmly received. The introduction of this station also aligns perfectly with Baltic Creative’s sustainability agenda, enhancing our efforts to create a greener, more connected future.”

People can have their say on the scheme at the drop-in event or via an online survey. You can find out more about the consultation and the scheme on the project page at liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/liverpoolbaltic