Earlestown Station – one of the oldest railway station buildings in the world – is all set for a significant upgrade, with contractors now appointed to take forward major improvement works.
The Grade II listed station building dates to around 1835 and sits at the site of the world’s first main line railway junction – the point where the Liverpool and Manchester Railway met the Warrington and Newton Railway. One of only two triangular stations still operating in the UK, it is widely regarded as the oldest railway station building in the world that remains in operational use.
Now, funding secured by St Helens Borough Council is set to give this remarkable piece of local heritage a new lease of life.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, acting as delivery partner for St Helens Borough Council, has awarded the contract to Merseyrail to begin the next phase of the project. The work is funded through the £20 million Earlestown Town Centre Levelling Up Fund Round 2, secured by the council in 2023.
Three key areas of work are planned for the station: repair and restoration of the listed station building itself, landscaping improvements to the surrounding area, and general upgrades including CCTV and lighting.
Alongside the station improvement project, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has also committed to designing lift access on Platforms 1, 2, 4 and 5 – part of Mayor Steve Rotheram’s commitment to making all stations in the city region accessible by 2030. The designs will be developed in parallel with the wider works to ensure everything is fully compatible.
Lisa Harris, Executive Director of Place at St Helens Borough Council, said: “Earlestown Station has one of the oldest railway passenger buildings in the world and this project will ensure we preserve this important heritage asset while providing modern, inclusive facilities fit for the future. Our ambition is to create a thriving, well connected town centre that honours our heritage and looks to the future with confidence so that residents, businesses and visitors can be proud and have access to opportunities locally and in the wider region.”
Jamie Ross, Director of Transport at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “We’re pleased to see the Earlestown Station improvement project moving into its next phase of delivery. These works will help enhance the experience for passengers and ensure the station continues to serve the community well.
“As well as upgrading key facilities, the project will preserve important elements of the station’s heritage. This approach allows us to support modern transport needs while recognising the site’s significant place in our railway history.”
The station project forms part of the wider Earlestown town centre regeneration programme, which also includes the refurbishment and extension of the Grade II listed Earlestown Town Hall and transformation of the historic Market Square, where work on a new permanent market canopy and public realm improvements is already under way.
Design development work on the station project is expected to begin in summer 2026.