Merseyrail services to begin operating from the new Headbolt Lane station in Kirkby

Merseyrail services will begin operating from the brand new Headbolt Lane station in Kirkby from Thursday 5 October.

The phased introduction of Headbolt Lane station will see facilities beginning to be opened up to Merseyrail passengers for the first time.

The extension of the Merseyrail line to Headbolt Lane has been years in the making and will provide easier access to services for people in the Tower Hill and Northwood areas of the town. It will also make it more accessible to people from across Knowsley, Rainford and West Lancashire. 

One Merseyrail train per hour will operate initially between Headbolt Lane and Liverpool Central using ground-breaking battery-powered trains for the first time in passenger service. More services will be added gradually until a full 15-minute service is in place. 

Two services per hour will continue to operate between Liverpool and Kirkby for the immediate future, with one of those trains also stopping at Headbolt Lane station as the full timetable is gradually introduced.

There will also be timetable changes for customers travelling from Kirkby and Fazakerley stations.

Liverpool Central-bound trains will now depart from Kirkby at 13 and 42 minutes past each hour until 23:13. The last train for Liverpool Central will depart from Headbolt Lane at 23:31, and from Kirkby at 23:33.

Kirkby-bound trains will now depart from Fazakerley at 21 and 51 minutes past each hour until 23:51. The last train from Fazakerley for Kirkby and Headbolt Lane will depart at 00:11.

The station car park, which will be able to hold approximately 270 vehicles, is still under construction and is expected to be completed soon. Customers are advised to use other modes of transportation to access the station. 

Local bus services will be stopping immediately outside the station building and whilst some of the entrances and footpaths are still being completed, pedestrian access will be via Headbolt Lane.

Neil Grabham, Managing Director of Merseyrail, said: 

“We are so pleased to welcome our new customers from the communities around Tower Hill, Northwood and across Knowsley, Rainford and West Lancashire who will use this fantastic new station to access the Merseyrail network for the first time. 

“It’s also the first time in 29 years that we have extended one of our lines and it’s thanks to the innovative new battery technology on the groundbreaking new fleet of class 777 trains being introduced by the Combined Authority. This truly is a milestone moment, as well as being a starting point for ambitious plans to grow the Merseyrail network over the coming years.

“Our friendly team at Headbolt Lane station can’t wait to welcome our first customers through the door, as trains begin to gradually operate on this part of the network for the first time from Thursday.”

Further details of the full timetable is available on the Merseyrail website here.