What the people of Kirkby really think of their new train station

Merseyside's newest train station opened earlier this month.

A little after 5.30am on Thursday, October 5, passengers embarked on the first ever journey from the newly completed Headbolt Lane station towards Liverpool Central. The fully accessible station is the first to be served by Merseyrail's new battery powered trains which could enable the network to run to places that were once inaccessible.^[1]

At one of the first services from the station, 18 months after ground was first broken on the project, Steve Rotheram said he was "buzzing" to see the new station come to life. At the time Mr Rotheram said: I’m beside myself because this has taken so much time and effort and while the government have dithered over rail infrastructure, we’ve just got on and delivered it, so today is the fruition of a lot of hard work."

Weeks later, the people of Kirkby ^[4] have had time to get to grips with the new station and earlier this week the ECHO visited the town to speak to the people living their about what they really thought about the much-anticipated station now it has finally arrived.

The response was vastly positive, with people praising the new transport link that may not only improve travel around Merseyside but the North West also. However, there were still a few questions unanswered.

Mum Karina Graham, 40, lives close to the station. She said that before she would rely on her car, or get a taxi to Kirkby station with her family when she needed to get into town.

That's changed now with the opening of the new station. Karina told the ECHO ^[5]: "It's good for the area. I think its a good thing.

"It'll definitely wean me off using the car so much. It's always chocker [on the roads] and then you've got to find a parking space."

Yet, Karina did disclose some concern from those living in her area that once the Headbolt Lane car park is completed they could find more cars on their roads if the car park ever overspills.
Headbolt Lane, Kirkby (Image: Liverpool Echo/Colin Lane)
She added: "Hopefully it won't happen. It's 300 spaces so I hope not. That's the only thing the neighbours are concerned about."

John Credidio, 50, who has lived in Kirkby for two years now said: "It's going to be a great transport link, especially for going to Manchester without having to go into Liverpool.

"We've had a few issues with the roads being closed but that's just what happens with construction. Other than that it'll be a good thing for the area."

Barbara, 35, who didn't want her full name shared, concurred. She told the ECHO: "If I can be honest, there's only good things about that station.

"We actually love it. It's such a shame that some people are only complaining about it due to the construction site work. And there's so many spaces that there's no way [the car park will overspill]. I think people are only complaining because they have to complain."

Yet, not everyone was as positive as some about the opening of the new station. According to Merseyrail 20,000 people living in the Northwood and Shevington areas of Kirkby will benefit from the new rail service, with only 60% of households in these areas owning a car.

Yet, one man living in the middle of Northwood, who asked not to be named, questioned the point of the station as it would only "cut off five or six minutes off my commute."

He added: "Why is the building so big? £80m on a station. You could probably have knocked a couple of million off by doing it like any other station."

A spokesperson for the Liverpool Combined Authority said: "We’re really pleased to see so many residents are using the new fully-accessible station at Headbolt Lane in Kirkby since its opening earlier this month.

"By opening the station and extending the Merseyrail network, we have given more people better access to rail services which they will be able to use for employment, education and leisure opportunities.

"This is particularly important in the Northwood and Shevington areas of Kirkby as 60% of households do not own a car in these areas. The station has been designed not only to cope with current passenger demand, but also the anticipated growth in usage we expect to see in the future.

"The investment we have made into this station is just a part of Mayor Steve Rotheram’s Merseyrail for All pledge, a commitment to expanding the local rail network across the city region.

"It also supports plans to deliver a London-style transport network, which aims to make the region’s public transport quicker, cheaper, greener and more reliable."

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References

^{^} once inaccessible. (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^{^} Police give update on man who 'set himself on fire' outside McDonald's (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^{^} Win a Tassimo My Way Machine worth £140 and enjoy your coffee shop favourite drinks at home (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^{^} Kirkby (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
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