There’s something truly special about arriving on a train, especially when you alight at any one of the UK’s historic station buildings that serve as a reminder of the golden age of railway.
Sadly for one commuter, a recent visit to Liverpool Central Station was anything by grand. As Liam Thorp of the Liverpool ECHO lemented the fall of the station, here’s what he found.
This bustling hub is synonymous with the beginning of exciting adventures, from pub crawls in my younger days to taking my infant son to Liverpool’s fantastic museums and attractions – followed by a visit to those same pubs.
Simply put, Liverpool Central on a weekend afternoon is a hive of activity, filled with the animated conversations of shoppers and day-trippers as they navigate through the busy station to experience all that our unique city centre has to offer.
The station serves as a vital entry point to the city centre, but unfortunately, its current state doesn’t reflect its significant role.
Buckets catching dripping rainwater have become an almost permanent sight on the platforms, while malfunctioning lifts and escalators are as frequent as announcements of delayed trains skipping stops en route to their final destination.
This weekend, like thousands of others, I ventured into the city centre with my wife and toddler to immerse ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere of Liverpool’s Lunar New Year celebrations – a significant day for Europe’s oldest Chinese community.
However, my experience was marred by the disappointing state of the city centre station, which was being used by numerous visitors to access our city.
We travelled by train from the south of the city and disembarked at Central Station. Our plan to use the main lift to the concourse was thwarted as it was out of service, blocked off by a barrier and a yellow cone.
This was particularly vexing as we had to resort to using the older lift at the end of the platform – a notoriously slow piece of machinery that seems to operate at a glacial pace. As we finally entered the main station, I noticed that this wasn’t the only issue plaguing the station.
Liverpool Central Station was in a state of disarray on Sunday, with both the Wirral Line and Northern Line escalators out of service. Adding to the chaos, one of the ticket barriers, crucial for managing the large crowds, was also broken.
The station was adorned with yellow and black tape, which could easily be mistaken for Merseyrail’s branding. However, it served as a stark reminder of the deteriorating infrastructure at the heart of our city centre.
While Merseyrail’s name and colours are prominent throughout the station, it’s important to note that they only operate the trains and employ the staff. The responsibility for the station’s upkeep and track infrastructure lies with Network Rail.
As a local journalist and public transport enthusiast, I reached out to Network Rail to find out when these issues might be addressed.
A spokesperson for Network Rail apologised for the recent disruption at Liverpool Central station, stating: “We’re sorry for the disruption caused to passenger journeys through Liverpool Central station recently.
“One escalator is currently out of service, but we aim to have it fixed by tonight (February 3). The new station lift is also down, and contractors are working hard to restore it as soon as possible. The original lift further along the platform remains operational for step free access.”
They added: “We are sorry also for having buckets out collecting water. This is not the level of customer service we know our passengers deserve. We are currently seeking specialist advice from a structural waterproofing expert to assess the situation and identify the most effective long-term solutions.”
The spokesperson also highlighted the challenges posed by the rising groundwater table in Liverpool, saying: “One contributing factor is the rising groundwater table in Liverpool, which presents ongoing challenges for managing water ingress in some of the oldest underground infrastructure in the country.
“We are actively working to mitigate the impact, but due to the complexity of the issue, a thorough assessment and tailored solution are required. We apologise for any inconvenience this is causing to passengers and appreciate their patience while we work to resolve the issue.”
