Merseyrail’s new station with battery-powered trains

On 5 October the new Merseryrail station at Haedbolt Lane was inaugurated for passenger service, with trains extended by 1.3km from the previous terminus at Kirkby. 

 

Because the new section of line is not electrified (the rest of Merseyrail features 750V dc third-rail electrification), the Stadler class 777 EMUs used on this line are equipped with traction batteries that power to trains to and from the new station, providing an hourly service (a 15-minute service is planned as patronage grows). 

 

This is the first use of battery trains on the Merseyrail network. Also using Headbolt Lane are Northern DMUs on the Wigan line, that previously terminated at Kirkby. Headbolt Lane, which cost £80M and took 18 months to build, features a 270-vehicle P+R site. There is also bus interchange for a service to Skelmersdale. 

 

Liverpool City region Mayor Steve Rotheram said, ‘As a Kirkby native I know how long local people have been talking about a station at Headbolt Lane. Thanks to devolution and the power it gives us to shape our own destiny, we have turned that talk into reality. These battery-powered trains are the first of their kind in the country and will help us to significantly reduce our carbon footprint, paving the way for a cleaner, greener integrated London-style transport network’.