Draft:Expansion of Merseyrail

Expansion of Merseyrail refers to the ongoing and proposed extensions of the Merseyrail urban rail network in and around the Liverpool City Region. Originally developed in the 1970s as an electrified rapid-transit system, Merseyrail currently operates two lines—the Northern Line and Wirral Line—using third rail electrification. As part of wider regional transport strategies, various proposals have emerged over several decades to expand the network by reopening disused lines, integrating with national rail services, and extending services to towns not currently served, such as Skelmersdale, Wrexham, and Preston.

Recent advances in rail technology—particularly the introduction of battery-capable Class 777 trains—have enabled a renewed push to expand Merseyrail beyond its current boundaries without requiring full-scale electrification. This expansion is guided by long-term planning documents produced by Merseytravel, Network Rail, and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, and is seen as a key component of improving regional connectivity, supporting economic regeneration, and delivering a more sustainable transport network.

A 1909 map showing some of the extensive rail lines around Liverpool

Use of battery powered trains

There have been several discussions about using battery technology to expand the Merseyrail network, either by using already existing track, re-using old track, or laying new track, these plans include:

• Ellesmere Port to Helsby: the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Long Term Rail Strategy document of October 2017 stated on page 37 that a trial of new Merseyrail battery trains will be undertaken in view to incorporate the 5.2-mile (8.4 km) stretch of track from Ellesmere Port to Helsby interchange station onto the Merseyrail network. A successful outcome may make Helsby one of the terminals of the Wirral Line replacing Ellesmere Port, with Stanlow and Thornton and Ince and Elton stations brought into the network.
• Ormskirk to Preston: the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Long Term Rail Strategy document of October 2017 also mentioned on page 37 the incorporation of Preston onto the Merseyrail network by extending the Merseyrail Northern Line over 15 miles (24 km) from Ormskirk to Preston interchange station. The aim was to make Preston one of the terminals of the Northern Line, with Burscough Junction, Rufford and Croston stations brought onto the Merseyrail network. The document stated, "The potential use of battery powered Merseyrail units may improve the business case. This will be reviewed after the Merseyrail units have been tested for battery operation in 2020."
• Headbolt Lane to Wigan or Skelmersdale: Extending the Northern Line to Wigan Wallgate has been a long-term goal. Network Rail identified this extension as a route that would benefit from electrification and enable new patterns of passenger services to operate. The Electrification Task Force prioritized the Kirkby to Salford Crescent electrification in 2015. Hybrid battery trains make extending to Wigan feasible without costly electrification, using battery power from Headbolt Lane to Wigan. There are also plans to add to the already existing line, in the form of re-opening Skelmersdale branch and running trains to Skelmersdale.
• Bidston to Wrexham: The line, currently ran by Transport for Wales, has been under its own battery trials with the Class 230 battery units. However, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, has suggested Merseyrail Class 777 battery units could take over this line, and increase services between Liverpool and Wrexham.
• Hunts Cross to Warrington: The Strategic Plan for the North West (SPNW) envisaged in 1973 that the Liverpool to Warrington line would be electrified and integrated into the Merseyrail Northern Line by 1991, making Warrington Central a terminus. In March 2015, the Electrification Task force placed electrifying the line from Liverpool to Manchester via Warrington Central in the Tier 1 priority category. The Liverpool City Region's Long Term Rail Strategy has clear aspirations to extend the network to Warrington, using the introduction of the Class 777 trains as an enabler.
• Southport to Wigan: This line has been identified by Network Rail as a route where electrification in conjunction with extension of electrification from Ormskirk to Preston and reinstatement of the Burscough Curves would enable new patterns of passenger service to operate. In March 2015, the Electrification Task force placed the electrifying of the line from Southport to Salford Crescent via Wigan in the Tier 1 priority category.

Wigan Wallgate station

Preston station

Alongside all of these, Steve Rotheram has wishes to expand the network towards Runcorn and Warrington via Chester, in preparation with HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail interchanges.

Reopening lines and track

Burscough Curves

The Burscough Curves were short rail chords linking the Ormskirk to Preston Line with the Manchester to Southport Line, enabling direct travel from Ormskirk and Preston to Southport. Regular passenger services ceased in 1962, and the tracks were removed. Reinstating the Burscough Curves would enable direct Preston-Southport and Ormskirk-Southport services, offering an alternative Liverpool-Southport route via Ormskirk. Network Rail has recommended further development of a strategy for their reinstatement. In a parliamentary debate on 27 April 2011, the transport minister expressed interest in discussing the curves' reinstatement with former Southport MP John Pugh.

The new Class 777 Merseyrail trains, capable of battery electric operation, may be considered for use on the Burscough Curves. Merseytravel's Long Term Strategy puts the opening of the curves in Network Rail's CP7 period.

Edge Hill to Bootle

Liverpool2 Container terminal extension, which is served by the Bootle Branch line

The Canada Dock Branch line, also known as the Bootle Branch line, is an unelectrified line running from Edge Hill Junction in the east of Liverpool in a curve to the container terminal to the north. Passenger trains were withdrawn in 1977, but it remains in constant use for freight to the Seaforth Container Terminal. Proposals have been made to electrify and reopen the line to passengers, potentially reopening stations like Spellow, Walton & Anfield, Breck Road, Tuebrook, Stanley, and Edge Lane.

Network Rail's March 2009 Route Utilisation Strategy for Merseyside found that the benefits of new infrastructure on the Canada Dock Branch did not justify the investment. However, the Department for Transport's July 2009 rail electrification document stated that the route to Liverpool Docks would be electrified via overhead wires. The document noted that electrifying this route would enable electric freight transport, creating an alternative access to Liverpool docks for electrically powered trains. Additionally, it was expected to enhance electrified connectivity to the planned freight terminal at Parkside near Newton-le-Willows.

Initial phases of electrification scheduled until 2016 did not list the line. Local residents campaigned for increased rail transport of containers to ease road congestion and pollution, which could further boost rail traffic. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's October 2017 Long Term Rail Strategy document outlined a proposal to introduce passenger services on the Bootle Branch into Lime Street, noting on page 37: "An initial study is required to understand fully the freight requirements for the line and what the realistic potential for operating passenger services over the line is." It was announced in December 2019 that Liverpool City Council had commissioned a feasibility study to explore reopening line to passenger traffic.

North Mersey Branch

The North Mersey Branch from Bootle to Aintree is currently used exclusively by engineering trains accessing Merseyrail tracks. Merseytravel aims to reopen and electrify this line in the long term. According to the Merseyside Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS), reopening the line is not currently recommended, although future development and regeneration could increase demand for these services. The RUS noted that any implementation must ensure that freight needs, both current and future, are met. Additionally, there may be long-term potential to use other infrastructure, such as the disused Wapping and Waterloo tunnels, to create new travel opportunities.

The original now demolished Skelmersdale station. The track was lifted in 1963.

Outer Rail Loop

West Derby station on the North Liverpool Extension Line, planned to be part of the Outer Loop

The Orbital Outer Rail Loop was part of the original Merseyrail plans in the 1970s, designed to circle the outer edges of Liverpool using existing rail lines. Liverpool's semi-circular layout has the city centre on its western edge by the River Mersey. The loop's western section, paralleling the river through the city centre, was the only part completed and now forms part of the Northern Line.

The concept of using the former Cheshire Lines Committee's North Liverpool Extension Line through the eastern suburbs dates back to before WWII. The proposal was a 'belt' line using the former Liverpool Overhead Railway, which ran along the river front, as its western section. The idea evolved in the 1960s into the Outer Rail Loop, a rapid-transit line combining new and existing electrified lines with a tunnel under the city centre. This would have allowed passengers from eastern and southern mainline routes to transfer at two parkway interchange stations, including Liverpool South Parkway, which opened three decades after the original proposal. The proposal would have allowed passengers to reach suburbs without entering the city centre, easing congestion at Lime Street station.

The Outer Loop aimed to connect eastern suburbs like Gateacre, Childwall, Broad Green, Knotty Ash, West Derby, Clubmoor, and Walton with the city centre. The final plan featured two sub-loops for the northern and southern suburbs, providing direct city centre access from the east. However, the eastern section was canceled in the late 1970s due to delays, cost overruns, and political opposition, with only the western section completed. The eastern section now forms the Liverpool Loop Country Park, a walking and cycling trail.

The project was abandoned as a working proposal by Merseytravel in the 1980s. Much expense was incurred in constructing a large bridge taking the M62 motorway over the eastern section and the construction of header tunnels south of Liverpool Central station. The route is still largely intact, complete with bridges, although now the eastern section mainly forms the Liverpool Loop Country Park – a walking and cycling trail through the suburbs.

The key components of the Loop were as follows:

• West Section: Existing Northern Line from Sandhills (later Aintree) to Hunts Cross, including the costly Link Line tunnel under the city centre.
• East Section: Former CLC North Liverpool Extension Line from Hunts Cross to Aintree, now a country park.
• North Section: Originally from Walton to Kirkdale, later from Aintree to Bootle via the North Mersey Branch, with the latter still used for maintenance trains.
• Central Section: From Central station to Broad Green, dividing the loop into north and south sub-loops, with a proposed but unrealized Edge Hill Spur scheme. A major junction was to have been formed with the eastern section of the Outer Loop with a six platform underground station to be named Rocket under the car park of the Rocket pub near the M62/Queens Drive road junction.

The loop was to use a double track with a 750 V DC third rail system. Although not officially revived, the route remains safeguarded, with occasional calls to revive parts of it, such as the stretch from Hunts Cross to Gateacre. Recent strategy documents have mentioned reopening the North Mersey Branch for passenger service between Bootle and Aintree with stations to serve Ford and Girobank.

Edge Hill Spur (reusing tunnels)

Victoria/Waterloo Tunnel portal at Edge Hill Station. The tunnel is an option for the Edge Hill Spur scheme.

Through out the years, there have been several plans to re-open the Victora, Wapping or Waterloo tunnels to create a connection from the "main" national rail network, to Merseyrail in the form of the Edge Hill Spur.