Passengers are being advised by Network Rail that Lime Street station will be closed on the weekend of the 2 and 3 of November for a signalling upgrade at nearby Edge Hill station.

The work is part of the Great North Rail Project and will see signalling controls are being transferred to Network Rail’s rail operating centre in Manchester.

The work also forms part of the £340m investment into the railway in the Liverpool City Region by the end of 2019 and is funded by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Network Rail.

Because Edge Hill station is the gateway to Lime Street, trains cannot run on any lines in and out of Liverpool’s main transport hub.

Passengers can still get to and from central Liverpool using rail replacement buses or by using the Merseyrail network via Liverpool South Parkway, adding only an additional 10-15 minutes to journeys.

Opened in 1830, Edge Hill station is the oldest passenger railway station in the world.

What did the officials say?

Phil James, managing director of Network Rail’s North West route, said:

“I know there is never a good time to close the railway but, for work as complex as this major signalling upgrade, unfortunately it is unavoidable.

“The Great North Rail Project work at Edge Hill follows on from the successful transfer of signalling control from several areas in the Liverpool City Region last year, as part of our Weaver Wavertree upgrades.

“We’ve worked closely with train operators to make sure passengers can get to where they need to be during Lime Street’s weekend closure. We’re urging people to check www.nationalrail.co.uk to plan their alternative journey on 2 and 3 November.”

Cllr Liam Robinson, transport portfolio holder at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said:

“Works like these are vital in making sure services are more reliable and keep our city region moving. We were very grateful for the patience shown by rail users during the Lime Street upgrade last year and we would advise them again to plan ahead and follow the advice given when making journeys over this weekend.

“Working together with our partners at Network Rail and the rail operators, we’re making sure that the city region remains very much open for business during this short closure.”

Jason Webb, director of customer information at the Rail Delivery Group, said:

“This vital work will increase reliability and capacity, improving people’s journeys to and from Liverpool. Network Rail and rail companies are working together to minimise disruption as the improvement work is carried out and we ask passengers to check before they travel.”

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