Liverpool's new Baltic railway station delayed

Plans for a new train £100m station in part of Liverpool will be delayed, the city's region's mayor has confirmed.

Liverpool Baltic station, in the Baltic Triangle area of the city, was due to open in 2027, but is now expected to open in 2029.

Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said the delay was a result of Network Rail being currently unable to do the work on the Northern Line station, as it faced other demands including the Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Trans Pennine upgrade.

Network Rail said it would be "pleased to support [the station's] development".

"I'm not going to be last in a list for them," Rotheram said, adding the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority was now investigating using other contractors.

He said the work required was very specific and can only be done by licensed developers and contractors who are allowed to work on a live rail network.

He said while there is existing Victorian infrastructure at the site, which was the former Liverpool St James railway station, part of the work involved installing modern accessibility requirements into "tight spaces".

"Of course 100 years ago, 50 years ago, people used to have to use the stairs," he said.

"We want a fully accessible network."

Plans for the new station include step-free access from pavement to train, modern facilities, toilets and secure cycle storage.

Rotheram said the combined authority was continuing to search for a contractor and that he expected works to be completed by 2029.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "We work closely with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and all of our partners in the region. The Liverpool Baltic station is an exciting project and we'll be pleased to support its development."

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