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Stations benefit from cash boost bonanza: 10 March 2010; The opening of a new MtoGo retail outlet and ticket unit at Hooton station heralds an investment of almost half a million pounds in three Wirral stations this month.

Improvements at Hooton also include a fully accessible toilet, along with a new waiting shelter on the Liverpool bound platform, due for completion within weeks.

Rock Ferry and Meols stations are also to benefit from the improvement scheme which has been jointly funded by Merseytravel and the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP).

At Rock Ferry the project will bring back into use a building located on the island platform, with the installation of a fully accessible toilet and waiting room, plus the booking hall and entrance will benefit from improved security and lighting.

At Meols station improvement work involves new glazing to the footbridge windows and staircase, redevelopment of existing buildings to provide enclosed passenger waiting shelters, a new passenger toilet and automatic entrance doors to the booking hall.

Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel said,” The investment in these stations is long overdue and we are pleased to finally be able to provide updated services for our passengers.

“This scheme is another example of how partnership working can reap huge benefits for our customers.”

Councillor Chris Blakeley, Chair of Merseytravel’s Rail Committee added,” For many Wirral residents the trains offer a lifeline, be it for commuting to work, shopping or just getting out and about, so these improvements will be very welcome”

Peter Morton, Merseyrail’s Finance and Commercial Director said: “I want our stations to be as good as they can be and I am delighted that together with Merseytravel we have been able to secure the necessary funding to benefit our passengers on the Wirral”

“Ideally, I want all stations to be of similar high standards with decent facilities for our passengers. This investment means that we are plugging the gaps right across the network to make this into a reality”

Hooton and Rock Ferry stations will also benefit from the provision of secure cycle parking later this year, funded from a successful £1 million joint bid by Merseytravel and Merseyrail to become a National Cycling Demonstration Train Operator.

The money was awarded by Cycling England, an organisation supported and funded by the Department for Transport and will benefit nine stations on the Wirral line and 18 stations on the Merseyrail network overall.

In all, seven stations on the Merseyrail Network have received funding through the NSIP, other stations benefitting are Hall Road, Huyton, Liverpool Central and Waterloo.

The National Stations Improvement Programme is a joint industry initiative funded primarily by the Department for Transport. It was introduced in 2007 as part of the Rail White Paper.

Earlier this year, Ormskirk station was the first station in the country to benefit from NSIP with an investment of £500,000, plus £200,000 from Merseytravel, as part of an overall £1.6m refurbishment programme.

Pictured at Hooton Station are (left to right) Peter Morton and Councillor Mark Dowd; Back to Media Centre