Virtual reality walkthrough brings £100m Liverpool Baltic station scheme to life

• Mayor Steve Rotheram unveils virtual reality walkthrough at drop-in event


• Public consultation on plans for £100m station scheme runs until early August


• Station will serve ‘UK’s coolest neighbourhood’


• A virtual reality (VR) walkthrough is bringing plans for the £100m Liverpool Baltic station development to life.

Mayor Steve Rotheram unveiled the walkthrough at a drop-in event in the Baltic Triangle today, which is part of an on-going public consultation into the plans.

The Mayor was one of the first people to place himself in the ‘virtual’ new station with the help of a VR headset, which gives a feel of how the station may look when completed in late 2027.

Liverpool Baltic station will be located in one of the city region’s fastest growing areas and is one of four new stations planned by recently re-elected Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, who has committed to completing the project by the end of 2027 – a year ahead of its previous schedule.

Mayor Rotheram has also pledged to build three new stations at Daresbury in Halton, Woodchurch on the Wirral and Carr Mill in St Helens, with work to develop all three underway by the end of the decade.

The move would mean that every borough of the city region would have a brand-new station since Mayor Rotheram took office in 2017.

Mayor Steve ROtheram is shown an artist impression of Baltic station

Speaking at the drop-in event, 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.”

The drop-in event is part of a public consultation on the station scheme, which is running until Sunday 4 August.

The new station, located on Merseyrail’s Northern Line, will serve the UK’s ‘coolest neighbourhood’ – and the world’s 11th coolest – according to Time Out magazine. The station’s name was chosen by the public in an online vote in 2022 which saw more than three-quarters opt for Liverpool Baltic.

The VR walkthrough is accessible from the project webpage and will also be used at the next drop-in event at FireFit Youth and Community Hub in Toxteth on Tuesday 23 July (11am to 8pm).

People can have their say on the scheme at the drop-in event or via an online survey.

You can find out more about the consultation and the scheme on the project webpage at liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/liverpoolbaltic

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.

Plans for Liverpool Baltic 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 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 by utilising the region’s new pioneering battery powered technology, which has made it possible to extend the lines beyond current boundaries.

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.

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 these public consultation events, 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. Our teams are available to speak to anyone who has questions or feedback as part of the consultation at these events. 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 or come and see us at the next drop-in event.”

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.”

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.”

Lynn Haime, Chief Executive of the Baltic Creative CIC, said:

“We are thrilled to see progress on the Liverpool Baltic station and get a feel for what it will look like.

“We’ve campaigned for this for many years as an important addition to the area which will not only support the existing business community but also fuel further growth.

“The need for this station reflects just how significant the Baltic Triangle has become as a location, and regular research with our creative and digital community consistently shows that it would be well used and warmly welcomed.

“The introduction of this station also aligns perfectly with Baltic Creative’s sustainability agenda, enhancing our efforts to create a greener, more connected future.”