“Amazing” VR brings Liverpool Baltic station plans to life

• Public consultation on £100m station scheme ends this Sunday (4 August)


• Virtual reality walkthrough and CGI teaser video bring plans to life


• Station due to open by end of 2027 to serve ‘UK’s coolest neighbourhood’

“Looks stunning… pretty impressive… a great opportunity” – these are just some of the comments from people who have tried out the virtual reality walkthrough of the £100m Liverpool Baltic station plans.

Hundreds of people have already stepped into the future to view the proposed designs and give their views in the public consultation since early July.

With just a few days left to go, there’s still time to check out the CGIs and play a part in shaping plans for the station, which will be located in one of the city region’s fastest growing areas.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“Since I became Mayor in 2017, I have worked tirelessly to ensure we have the best connectivity possible for our residents across the city region. It is important that people can enjoy a reliable, accessible, cheap and integrated public transport network that makes getting around an easy, untroubled experience.

“Our plans for Liverpool Baltic station demonstrate our ambitions for the future of our network, with this virtual walkthrough showcasing the level of quality we want to build for our residents.

“This station will be located in an area that is growing in popularity, and this holds massive potential in driving economic growth in and around the Baltic.

“Liverpool Baltic is the first of many new stations part of my commitment to ‘Merseyrail for All’, connecting communities not currently connected by the rail network to harness growth and opportunities in our area.”

Located on Merseyrail’s Northern Line, Liverpool Baltic will serve the UK’s ‘coolest neighbourhood’ – and the world’s 11^th coolest – according to Time Out magazine.

Plans for the station include step-free access from street to train, passenger waiting facilities, fully accessible passenger toilets, secure monitored cycle parking and links to an enhanced local active travel network.

The consultation ends at midnight on Sunday 4 August and anyone can give their views until then via an online survey.

You can find out more about the scheme and the consultation survey on the project webpage at liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/liverpoolbaltic, which includes the virtual reality walkthrough and photo-realistic CGIs.

Information gathered from the consultation will be used to finalise the design ahead of the planning application. Subject to approval, work is expected to begin on site in 2025, with the station scheduled to open by the end of 2027.

The new station is part of Mayor Rotheram’s “Merseyrail for All” commitment to reach communities that are currently not connected to the local rail network, including utilising the region’s new pioneering battery powered technology which has already made it possible to extend the lines beyond current boundaries at Headbolt Lane in Kirkby.

It is also hoped that by extending and improving services more people will be encouraged to travel by public transport instead of car, supporting the Mayor’s ambitious target of reaching net zero by 2035.

Philippa Britton, Network Rail principal programme sponsor, said: 

“The virtual reality walkthrough is a fantastic way to bring the exciting plans for Liverpool Baltic station to life.

“It’s been great to deliver the design of the new station in this vibrant part of the Liverpool City region and work alongside the combined authority and other partners.”

Neil Grabham, Managing Director of Merseyrail, said:

“It’s really exciting to be able to share the plans for the new Liverpool Baltic station as part of this public engagement, alongside colleagues from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Liverpool City Council and Network Rail.

“I’m sure that everyone taking part in this consultation will be impressed with the plans for the new station. Once built, the new station at Liverpool Baltic will have a hugely positive impact on the whole area.

“I know that people will have lots of opinions about the development. So please do take part in the survey before it closes.”

Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet member for Growth and Economy, said:

“The new Liverpool Baltic station has huge potential to help drive the economic growth of this part of the city centre and will act as a vital service for the long-standing residential community.

“Its development will also complement the Council’s plans to improve the public realm in the area for both residents and visitors alike.

“The next few years should define the future of the Baltic Triangle for decades to come and these new images and the pending public consultation is an exciting chapter in this unfolding story.”