Nice attempt. But a non-starter for many reasons.
Ironically, the Beeching axe plans of the early 1960s was a good thing for Liverpool if the 1970s plans were implemented fully instead of being abandoned (some had started like the Wapping Tunnel branches):
- Reuse of the Wapping tunnel connecting Central to Edge Hill,
- A branch of the north Liverpool Loop Line (Gateacre, West Derby, etc) into the Liverpool-Manchester line at Broad Green
- Electrification to St Helens, Skem on line, etc, etc.
This never occurred because of cut-backs. Nevertheless, even the cut-down version we ended up with, the Merseyrail metro created was a superb system with scope to re-use the abandoned lines, tunnels and stations at a later date.
- Merseyside was to have only one main line station, Lime St, with Birkenhead Woodside, Liverpool Exchange, Liverpool Central High level and Liverpool Riverside (although a dedicated liner terminal), being demolished. For all in Merseyside to access Lime St main line,
- A new integrated metro system was to be created merging separate rail lines into one system - Merseyrail. This would entail some tunneling under Liverpool city centre. To link them together.
The metro would give great benefits all around, not just main line station access. London Underground was created in the 1930s, doing the same, Liverpool's metro/underground was 40 years later.
The plan was superb and largely worked. Lime St is easily accessed from most of Wirral than what Woodside was. Merseyrail metro brings all into the centre.
Now if Lime St can't handle future expansion, there are a few ways to improve that:
- Take the Merseyrail City Line into Central underground station via the Wapping tunnel (the 1970s plan that was started). Will require much needed electrification to St Helens. This will release a few needed platforms at Lime St for long haul only and local Merseyrail metro being separate, as most metro systems do in large cities.
- If the platforms at Lime St require lengthening, that can be done by cutting out more rock at the back of the station.
- Lime St has the luxury to park long haul trains at Edge Hill over a mile up the Lime St cutting and trains come into the station when only dropping off or loading passengers.
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Implementing the above would be far cheaper than re-building Exchange, which is splitting the main line access into two separate points.
So much flexibility is created using the Wapping tunnel to link the centre underground tunnels to Edge Hill junction. The City Line would be on-line onto the electric Merseyrail. Trains could go from St Helens to West Kirby without any problem if need be. Using overhead wires, and dual-pickup trains, trains can go from Central and along the London main line (WCML Spur), via Edge Hill, Allerton station, etc, and stations re-used for Mesreyrail at Smithdown Rd, etc - all on Merseyrail electric and direct city centre, shopping and business district access.
The same with the Canada Dock Branch line (LFCs new stadium) using overhead wires and dual power pickup trains. It can enter Central station and beyond (Wirral, back to Kirkdale, etc), increasing the service of Merseyrail, creating economic growth as speculators build around the stations.
So instead of reusing Exchange:
- Branch the Wapping Tunnel into the Northern Line at Central - would be the oldest used underground metro tunnel in the world.
- Electrify the City Line to St Helens line to access Central station, this is scheduled to happen, releasing platform space at Lime St main line for trans-Pennine trains.
- Electrify the Canada Dock Branch, this is scheduled to happen, getting the line into Central - LFCs stadium and outer suburbs are then served.
As Lime St can still cope, the first stage should be to bring the inner cities onto Merseyrail to attract investment. Look at:
Extending Merseyrail click here
This was started with the constructing of Conway Park in Birkenhead's inner-city district. It should extended further with bringing Liverpool's inner-city districts on-line. Use the metro to greatly assist in regeneration. Property men like metro stations as land values rise around them. Economic growth is created.
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