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Lea Green station opens after upgrade
Lea Green station in St Helens reopens with a new building and larger car park on the Liverpool to Manchester line.
Lea Green station in St Helens opens upgraded facilities as part of a £10m improvement on the Liverpool to Manchester line.
Lea Green station reopens after £10m upgrade
Lea Green station in St Helens opened its upgraded facilities this morning. A new station building includes a ticket office, waiting area and toilets, alongside a multi-storey car park that more than doubles the park-and-ride capacity to about 450 spaces. Northern delivered the project after securing approval from the Office of Rail and Road, and the works were funded by the Transforming Cities Fund as part of the St Helens Southern Gateway programme.
The upgrade was designed to improve connectivity on the electrified Liverpool to Manchester line and to offer a more comfortable journey for passengers. The site serves more than 465,000 users a year, but the project faced delays that pushed completion beyond the original 2023 target. The ORR authorised the opening earlier this month, enabling a public launch this August.
Key Takeaways
"We’re pleased to announce that these fantastic new facilities have opened, allowing customers to enjoy more comfortable and convenient journeys."
Statement from Northern managing director Tricia Williams on the opening.
"Good public transport is vital for connecting people with opportunity. This investment moves us closer towards building the London-style, integrated transport network that our region deserves."
Mayor Steve Rotheram on the broader transport strategy.
"While the project has taken longer than initially anticipated, we are pleased that the state-of-the-art facilities at Lea Green station are opening to the public following Northern's completion of required works."
Comment from Anthony Burns, leader of St Helens Borough Council.
The Lea Green upgrade highlights how regional transport schemes can unlock long‑planned improvements, even as big projects face slowdowns. Funding from the Transforming Cities Fund signals a broader strategy to shift travel away from cars, but delays underscore the gap between policy ambition and delivery reality. If the new facilities encourage more people to travel by rail, they could contribute to a more integrated, affordable regional network.
Highlights
- New facilities, new momentum for the region
- Public transport finally meets local ambition
- A better ride starts with a better station
- Lea Green shows delivery can beat delay
Public funding and delays raise concerns
The Lea Green upgrade relied on multi‑year funding and faced prolonged delays since the 2023 target. While officials frame the project as a step forward for regional connectivity, questions remain about timelines, cost efficiency, and delivery accountability.
The upgrade stands as a test of whether regional plans translate into everyday reliability.
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