View source for Liverpool Lime Street railway station

{{Short description|Principal railway station in Merseyside, England}}
{{Redirect|Liverpool Lime Street|the actual street|Lime Street, Liverpool}}
{{distinguish|London Liverpool Street}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2014}} <!-- Article needs more inline citations, particularly for the History, Station layout and current services sections. -->
{{Use British English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox station
| name               = Liverpool Lime Street High Level
| symbol_location    = gb
| image              = LIME STREET STATION LIVERPOOL JULY 2013 (9316681754).jpg
| caption            = Station entrance on Lime Street, July 2013
| symbol             = rail
| address            = [[Lime Street, Liverpool|Lime Street]],
| borough            = [[Liverpool]], [[Merseyside]],
| country            = [[United Kingdom]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|53.4075|-2.9784|type:railwaystation_region:GB_scale:10000|display=inline,title}}
| manager            = [[Network Rail]]
| platforms          = 10
| connections        = Lime Street Low Level {{rint|liverpool}}
| code               = LIV
| zone               = C1
| classification     = [[United Kingdom railway station categories|DfT category]] A
| transit_authority  = [[Merseytravel]]
| lines              = [[City Line (Merseyrail)|City Line]]/[[National Rail]]
| original           = [[Liverpool and Manchester Railway]]
| pregroup           = [[London and North Western Railway]]
| postgroup          = [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway]]
| years              = 15 August 1836
| events             = Opened
| mpassengers        = {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2019/20 |passengers={{increase}} 16.022 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 1.190 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2020/21 |passengers={{decrease}} 3.511 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 0.418 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2021/22 |passengers={{increase}} 10.464 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 1.134 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2022/23 |passengers={{increase}} 11.102 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 0.862 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2023/24 |passengers={{increase}} 12.279 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 0.918 million}}
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-zoom      = 13
| grid_name          = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|Grid reference]]
| grid_position      = {{gbmapscaled|SJ351905|25|SJ351905}}
| footnotes          = Passenger statistics from the [[Office of Rail and Road]]
| location_state     = expanded
}}

{{Infobox station
| name               = Liverpool Lime Street Low Level
| symbol_location    = gb
| symbol             = liverpool
| manager            = [[Merseyrail]]
| platforms          = 1
| connections        = Lime Street High Level {{rint|gb|rail}}
| code               = LVL
| zone               = C1
| classification     = [[United Kingdom railway station categories|DfT category]] D
| lines              = [[Wirral line]]
| years2             = 1977
| events2            = Opened
| mapframe           = no
| location_state     = collapsed
}}

'''Liverpool Lime Street''' is a railway station complex located on [[Lime Street, Liverpool|Lime Street]], in [[Liverpool city centre]], [[Merseyside]], England. Although publicly a single, unified station, it is operationally divided into two official railway stations: '''Liverpool Lime Street High Level''', the main station serving the city centre of [[Liverpool]] and the oldest still-operating grand terminus main line station in the world;<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-30 |title=Liverpool Lime Street |url=https://benskibarrowexpress.wordpress.com/liverpool-lime-street/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803213836/https://benskibarrowexpress.wordpress.com/liverpool-lime-street/ |archive-date=3 August 2020 |access-date=2020-01-20 |website=BenskiBarrowExpressTrainsInfo }}{{Self-published source|date=January 2020}}</ref> and '''Liverpool Lime Street Low Level''', an underground [[Wirral line]] station (part of the [[List of underground stations of the Merseyrail network|Merseyrail network]]) connected to the main terminal building by a pedestrian subway below street-level.<ref name="railwaycodes.org.uk">{{Cite web |title=CRS, NLC, TIPLOC and STANOX codes, location L |url=http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/crs/crsl.shtm |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=www.railwaycodes.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lime Street Low Level |url=https://www.merseyrail.org/journey-planning/stations/lime-street-low-level/ |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=www.merseyrail.org }}</ref> Despite their operational distinctions, both stations are integrated from a passenger perspective, sharing signage, access points and overall station identity. Lime Street High Level is one of 18 stations managed by [[Network Rail]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Our stations |url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/ |access-date=2 March 2017 |work=Network Rail}}</ref> while Lime Street Low Level is managed directly by the train operator, [[Merseyrail]].

A branch of the [[West Coast Main Line]] from [[Euston railway station|London Euston]] terminates at Lime Street, as does the original [[Liverpool and Manchester Railway]]. Journeys from the station cover a wide range of destinations across England, Scotland and Wales.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/8897/tpes-liverpool-scotland-service-delayed/|title=TPE's Liverpool-Scotland service delayed|date=3 March 2019}}</ref>

The station building was designed by [[John Cunningham (architect)|John Cunningham]], [[Arthur Hill Holme|Arthur Holme]] and [[John Foster Jr (architect)|John Foster Jr]] and built by the Liverpool and Manchester Railway to replace their existing terminus, [[Crown Street railway station]], which was deemed to be too far from the city centre – construction beginning in October 1833 and the station opening in August 1836. Due to growing popularity, the station was later expanded by [[Joseph Locke]] and [[Liverpool Lime Street railway station#Early expansion|others]] in 1849 and again by [[William Baker (engineer)|William Baker]] and Francis Stevenson in 1867, which included the construction of the world’s largest arched train shed at the time as well as a second train shed being added in 1879.

Following [[British Rail#Nationalisation in 1948|nationalisation of the railways]] in 1948, Lime Street station saw various upgrades, including improved signalling, a redeveloped concourse, and new retail and office space. Electric rail services to [[Crewe railway station|Crewe]] began in 1962, followed by the station’s first [[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity]] service to London in 1966. In the 1970s, with the commencement of [[Merseyrail]] Wirral line services to Lime Street Low Level and the closure of all other long-distance termini in Liverpool, Lime Street became the city’s main rail hub. The [[British Rail Class 390|Pendolino]] service was launched in the station by [[Virgin Trains]] at a ceremonial unveiling in 2003, improving travel times to London; full electrification of the Liverpool and Manchester railway's former route was completed in May 2015.

The station is fronted by the former [[North Western Hotel, Liverpool|North Western Hotel]], a large [[Renaissance Revival architecture|Renaissance Revival]] style building, which has been the Radisson Red Liverpool Hotel since December 2022;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Radisson RED Liverpool Hotel Opening in 2020 |url=https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article101830.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=29 July 2021 |title=New images show interior of £20m Radisson RED |url=https://lbndaily.co.uk/new-images-show-interior-20m-radisson-red/ |access-date=31 July 2021 |work=Liverpool Business News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=14 April 2022 |title=Grand new hotel to open in Liverpool's city centre this summer |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/radisson-red-hotel-open-iconic-23689427}}</ref> and the [[Concourse House]] office block with several retailers stood outside the southern train shed from the 1960s until their demolition in 2010. Lime Street is the largest and oldest railway station in Liverpool, being awarded 5 stars in ''Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations'' by [[Simon Jenkins]], one of only ten to achieve this.<ref>Jenkins, Simon and Richard Morrison. [https://www.thetimes.com/culture/article/review-britains-100-best-railway-stations-by-simon-jenkins-w5mjwgvf5 "Review: Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations by Simon Jenkins."] ''The Times'', 9 December 2017.</ref>

==History==
===Origins===
The original terminus of the 1830 [[Liverpool and Manchester Railway]] (L&MR) was located at [[Crown Street Station|Crown Street]], in [[Edge Hill, Liverpool|Edge Hill]], to the east of and outside the city centre. However, even before Edge Hill had been opened, it was apparent that there was a pressing need for another station to be built, which would this time be closer to the city centre. Accordingly, during October 1833, the construction commenced on a purpose-built station at Lime Street in the city centre; the land was purchased from Liverpool Corporation for £9,000 ({{Inflation|UK|9000|1833|r=-4|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/localhistory/journey/lime_street/station/history.shtml |title=Lime Street Station |work=BBC |date=24 September 2014 |access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref> The means of connecting the new station to L&MR's network came in the form of a twin-track tunnel, which had been constructed between Edge Hill and the site of the new Lime Street station a year prior to work being started on the station itself; during the construction effort, the tunnel was frequently used to transport building materials for the station onto the site. The station was designed by the architects [[John Cunningham (architect)|John Cunningham]], [[Arthur Hill Holme|Arthur Holme]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=202827 |title=Basic Site Details – Lime Street Station |publisher=Dictionary of Scottish Architects |access-date=4 January 2015}}</ref> and [[John Foster (architect, born 1786)|John Foster Jr]].<ref name="Echo-20120407">{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/merseyside-tales-liverpool-lime-street-3346776 |title=Merseyside Tales: Liverpool Lime Street station's development |work=Liverpool Echo |date=7 April 2012 |access-date=16 February 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Roscoe GJR(1839) p155 - Entrance to the Railway Station at Liverpool.jpg|thumb|A period depiction of the original Lime Street station frontage, circa 1839]]

During August 1836, Lime Street station was officially opened to the public,<ref name="RT1">{{cite web |url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/liverpoollimestreets/ |website=railway-technology.com |title=Liverpool Lime Street Station, United Kingdom |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref> although the construction process was not completed until the following year. This building was designed with four large gateways, two of which were intentionally non-functional.<ref name="Echo-20120407" /><ref name="ItsLiverpool">{{cite web |url=http://www.itsliverpool.com/arts-and-culture/a-complete-history-of-liverpool-lime-street/ |title=The Life of Lime Street |work=It's Liverpool |access-date=17 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216225613/http://www.itsliverpool.com/arts-and-culture/a-complete-history-of-liverpool-lime-street/|archive-date=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Brown|1843|p=155}}</ref> For its early operations, as a consequence of the steep incline uphill from Lime Street to Edge Hill, trains would be halted at Edge Hill and the locomotives detached from the trains; the practice of the era was for the passenger carriages to be taken down by [[gravity]], during which the rate of descent would be controlled by [[brakeman|brakemen]] located in a brake van. The return journey was achieved via the use of a stationary [[steam engine]] located at Edge Hill, which would be used to haul the carriages up to Edge Hill by rope. This system was constructed by the local engineering firm [[Mather, Dixon and Company]], who worked under the direction of the engineer [[John Grantham]]. During 1870, this practice came to an end; instead, trains would enter and depart the station by conventional means.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1416|title=Liverpool & Manchester Railway |work=Engineering Timelines |access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://hummedia.manchester.ac.uk/institutes/marc/research/projects/past-projects/LiverpoolReportv2.pdf |title=Liverpool's Lost Railway Heritage |first1=Angela |last1=Connelly |first2=Michael |last2=Hebbert |work=Manchester Architecture Research Centre |publisher=University of Manchester |page=18 |date=March 2011 |access-date=16 February 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216211824/http://hummedia.manchester.ac.uk/institutes/marc/research/projects/past-projects/LiverpoolReportv2.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2017 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Whishaw|1842|p=193}}</ref>

===Early expansion===
Lime Street station was a near-instant success with the railway-going public. Within six years of its opening, the rapid growth of the railways had necessitated the expansion of the original station. An early plan for the enlarged station would have involved the erection of an iron roof, similar to that found at [[Euston railway station|Euston station]] (pre-1960s rebuilding) in London, which was a ridge roof supported by iron columns. However, a different proposal quickly gained the approval of the station committee. A single curved roof was produced by a collaborative effort; designed and [[load testing|load tested]] by engineer [[Joseph Locke]], with construction contracted to [[iron founder]] [[Richard Turner (iron-founder)|Richard Turner]], and the work checked by engineer [[William Fairbairn]] and manufacturer [[John Kennedy (manufacturer)|John Kennedy]].<ref name="ET-LSSR">{{cite web |url=http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=609 |title=Lime Street Station Roof |work=Engineering Timelines |access-date=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LA">{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolarchitecture.com/tours/buildings/building.php?id=1 |title=Lime Street Station |publisher=LiverpoolArchitecture.com |access-date=30 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040808064345/http://www.liverpoolarchitecture.com/tours/buildings/1.shtml |archive-date=8 August 2004}}</ref> The expansion work was performed at a cost of £15,000 ({{Inflation|UK|15000|1849|r=-4|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} and was completed during 1849, by which time the noted architect [[William Tite]] had also been involved.<ref name="RT1" /> Meanwhile, during 1845, the L&MR had been absorbed by its principal business partner, the [[Grand Junction Railway]] (GJR); the following year the GJR became part of the [[London and North Western Railway]]. Amongst the features which date back to the 1846–1849 rebuild of the station are a group of four columns which adjoin former Platform 1, they have been attributed to engineer [[Edward Woods (engineer)|Edward Woods]].<ref name="Sharples186">{{harvnb|Sharples|Pollard|2004|p=186}}</ref>

By 1857, a pair of [[granite]] columns had been erected outside the station entrance; over time, these had become known as the "Candlesticks".<ref name="Echo-20120407" />{{sfn|Herdman|1968|loc=Plate 29}} During 1867, further expansion of Lime Street station was required to cope with operational demands; changes included the present northern arched train shed. Designed by [[William Baker (engineer)|William Baker]] and Francis Stevenson<ref name="Sharples185">{{harvnb|Sharples|Pollard|2004|p=185}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-359020-lime-street-station- |title=Lime Street Station, Liverpool |work=British Listed Buildings |access-date=16 February 2017}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|William Baker was the L&NWR's chief engineer at the time of the northern roof construction. Stevenson, who was Baker's assistant engineer at the time of the construction, succeeded Baker as the L&NWR's chief engineer upon Baker's death in 1878.<ref name="ET-LSSR" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lnwrs.org.uk/LNWR/CivilEngineer/Civil01.php |title=William Baker (1815—1878) |work=London and North Western Railway Society |access-date=16 February 2017 |archive-date=7 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607113604/http://www.lnwrs.org.uk/LNWR/CivilEngineer/Civil01.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lnwrs.org.uk/LNWR/CivilEngineer/Civil02.php |title=Francis Stevenson M.I.C.E. (1827—1902) |work=London and North Western Railway Society |access-date=16 February 2017 |archive-date=17 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217063626/http://www.lnwrs.org.uk/LNWR/CivilEngineer/Civil02.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>}} the train shed featured a span of {{convert|200|ft|m}}, leading to it being recognised as the largest such structure in the world at the time.<ref>{{harvnb|Pollard|Pevsner|2006|p=54}}</ref> It was also the first train shed in which iron was used throughout. During 1879, a second parallel southern train shed was completed, which had been designed by Stevenson and E.W. Ives.<ref name="Sharples185" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://hummedia.manchester.ac.uk/institutes/marc/research/projects/past-projects/LiverpoolReportv2.pdf |title=Liverpool's Lost Railway Heritage |first1=Angela |last1=Connelly |first2=Michael |last2=Hebbert |work=Manchester Architecture Research Centre |publisher=University of Manchester |page=27 |date=March 2011 |access-date=16 February 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216211824/http://hummedia.manchester.ac.uk/institutes/marc/research/projects/past-projects/LiverpoolReportv2.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2017 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> This second train shed featured dry construction techniques,<ref group="nb">That is, without the use of [[Mortar (masonry)|mortar]].</ref> while each bay reportedly took only three days to build.<ref name="LA" />{{refn|group=nb|E.W. Ives' (Edward William Ives) method was later applied to the design and construction of the [[Liverpool Overhead Railway]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/dockers-umbrella-riveting-tale-victorian-3489260 |title=The Dockers' Umbrella: Riveting tale of Victorian success |work=Liverpool Echo |date=21 April 2008 |access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref>}}

[[File:Liverpool 3 Lime Street Station 2025960.jpg|thumb|Inward view of Liverpool Lime Street station, 1959]]

Lime Street station is fronted by a large building, built in the [[Renaissance Revival architecture|Renaissance Revival]] style, which formerly housed the [[North Western Hotel, Liverpool|North Western Hotel]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/nostalgia/liverpool-now-spot-10310410 |title=Liverpool Then and Now from On This Spot |work=Liverpool Echo |first=Mike |last=Price |date=25 October 2015 |access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref> Designed by [[Alfred Waterhouse]], the building was built during 1871 and served as student accommodation for [[Liverpool John Moores University]] from 1996.<ref>{{harvnb|Welbourn|2008|p=100}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/jmu-sells-its-exclusive-flats-2934854 |title=JMU sells its exclusive flats |work=Daily Post |date=23 January 2004 |access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | last = Pye| first = Ken| year = 2011| title = Discover Liverpool| location = Liverpool| publisher = Trinity Mirror Media|page = 26|  isbn = 978-1-906802-90-5}}</ref> It was announced on 28 September 2018 that the building will be restored as a hotel by the Marcus Worthington Group at a cost of £30m. It reopened as the Radisson RED Liverpool Hotel in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Radisson RED Liverpool Hotel Opening in 2020 |url=https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article101830.html |website=www.hotelnewsresource.com |access-date=8 July 2019}}</ref>

As a result of the [[Railways Act 1921]], which grouped the majority of railway companies together to create the [[Big Four (British railway companies)|Big Four]], Lime Street station passed into the ownership of the newly formed [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway|London, Midland and Scottish]] (LMS) railway. The station played an early role in the development of [[Travelling Post Office|mail train]]s, the [[General Post Office|Post Office]] first dispatched mail by train from Lime Street.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/localhistory/journey/lime_street/station/firsts.shtml |title=Lime Street Firsts |work=BBC News |access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref>

===British Rail era===
[[File:Lime Street from St George's Hall - geograph.org.uk - 147203.jpg|thumb|right|The station's frontage seen in 2006, including the Concourse House tower block and a row of shops, which were demolished in 2009]]

Upon [[British Rail#Nationalisation in 1948|nationalisation of the railways]] during 1948, Lime Street Station became a part of the [[London Midland Region of British Railways]]. On 28 January 1948, a new [[signal box]] controlling movements in and around Lime Street was commissioned; this signal box would remain in use for almost 70 years, being one of the last lever frames boxes still in operation by the time of its decommissioning during 2017–2018.<ref name = "rail engsig16">{{cite web |url=https://www.railengineer.co.uk/2016/09/14/liverpool-lime-street-resignalling/ |title=Liverpool Lime Street Resignalling |work=Rail Engineer |date=14 September 2016 |access-date=18 February 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> During 1955, the station concourse was redeveloped and modernised.<ref name="RT1" /> During 1959, preparatory work commenced at Lime Street for the first stage of the electrification of the [[West Coast Main Line]].<ref>{{harvnb|Cadwallader|Jenkins|2010|p=55}}</ref> On 1 January 1962, regular electric services between Lime Street and [[Crewe railway station|Crewe]] were officially started.<ref>{{harvnb|Cadwallader|Jenkins|2010|p=56}}</ref>

The railway lines to former platforms 10 and 11 were removed by 1965.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} On 18 April 1966, the station hosted the launch of its first [[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity]] service, which saw the introduction of a regular {{convert|100|mph|abbr=on}} service between Liverpool and London.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BRB_YNR001.pdf |title=Your New Railway London Midland Electrification |work=British Railways Board |pages=3, 16–17 |date=April 1966 |access-date=20 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bath.ac.uk/e-journals/jtep/pdf/Volume_111_No_1_69-95.pdf |title=Intercity Travel and the London Midland Electrification |first=Andrew W. |last=Evans |work=University of Bath |page=71 |date=January 1969 |access-date=20 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2016/4-april-1966-iconic-locomotive/ |title=Iconic locomotive's special 100mph public demonstration run of 4 April 1966 – full details revealed. |work=rail.co.uk |date=28 March 2016 |access-date=20 February 2017 |archive-date=21 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221105512/http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2016/4-april-1966-iconic-locomotive/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Morse|2016|p=46}}</ref> On 11 August 1968, the ''[[Fifteen Guinea Special]]'', a return service to [[Carlisle railway station|Carlisle]], was hauled by the [[LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0|Black Five]] locomotive [[LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 5110|45110]] from Liverpool to Manchester Victoria and back. Arriving back at Lime Street at 7:58 pm, this train marked the end of British Railways' final steam-hauled mainline passenger journey.<ref name="ItsLiverpool" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/content/articles/2008/08/06/history_end_of_steam_1968_feature.shtml |title=The end of the line for steam |first=Paul |last=Coslett |work=BBC Liverpool |date=6 August 2008 |access-date=16 February 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Merseyrail Map.svg|thumb|The Merseyrail map in use until 2018, when [[Maghull North railway station|Maghull North]] was included. Lime Street is visible on the right-hand side of the central loop]]

An office tower block named [[Concourse House]], along with a row of small retail outlets, used to stand outside the southern train shed, obscuring the arches. These dated from the 1960s and, by the 2000s, had become run down.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/new-design-plans-lime-street-3497741 |title=New design plans for Lime Street station |first=Neil |last=Hodgson |date=22 December 2007 |work=Liverpool Echo |access-date=22 November 2015}}</ref> They were demolished as part of a comprehensive refurbishment completed in 2010.

During the 1970s, a new urban rail network, known as [[Merseyrail#Creation of Merseyrail|Merseyrail]] was developed, resulting in four terminus stations being taken out of use in Liverpool and Birkenhead centres.<ref group="nb">These were [[Birkenhead Woodside railway station|Birkenhead Woodside]], [[Liverpool Riverside railway station|Liverpool Riverside]], [[Liverpool Exchange railway station|Liverpool Exchange]] and [[Liverpool Central High Level railway station|Liverpool Central High Level]] stations.</ref> As a consequence of this restructuring and rationalization, only Lime Street remained as a terminus, thus serving as a central point for the whole region for medium- and long-haul routes. At the same time, the Merseyrail network provided commuters with ease of access across the whole Merseyside region to the one remaining large terminus.

Between 1983 and 1984, the station concourse was again altered and refurbished at a total estimated cost of £7.4 million.<ref name="RT1" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1983/nov/29/liverpool-lime-street-railway-station |title=Liverpool Lime Street Railway Station |work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |date=29 November 1983 |access-date=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="Hansard19840430">{{cite web |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1984/apr/30/liverpool-lime-street-station |title=Liverpool Lime Street Railway Station |work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |date=30 April 1984 |access-date=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1983/mar/09/british-rail-sleeper-service |title=British Rail (Sleeper Service) |work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |date=9 March 1983 |access-date=16 February 2017}}</ref> This refurbishment included the construction of the black glass building which partially surrounds platforms inside the northern train shed, as well as the glass screen which separates the concourse from platforms inside the southern train shed.<ref name="Sharples186" /> The alterations also coincided with the opening of the [[International Garden Festival]].<ref name="Hansard19840430" /> On 29 November 1984, the new development was officially opened by [[Anne, Princess Royal|Princess Anne]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/tessa-gallery/8472494793/ |title=Lime Street Opens |work=Flickr |access-date=18 February 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219002416/https://www.flickr.com/photos/tessa-gallery/8472494793/|archivedate=19 February 2017}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Self-published primary source|date=February 2017}}

===Privatisation era===
[[File:Doddy and Bessie, Liverpool Lime Street (geograph 2973892).jpg|thumb|right|Statues of Ken Dodd and Bessie Braddock, installed in 2009]]

On 20 October 2003, the new [[British Rail Class 390|Pendolino]] service operated by private rail operator [[Virgin Trains]], which introduced a faster service between Liverpool and London, was ceremonially unveiled in the presence of the company's founder and chief executive officer [[Richard Branson]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/3209060.stm |title=Delays hit Pendolino unveiling|work=BBC News |date=20 October 2003 |access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref> Designed from the onset to be a [[tilting train]], it quickly replaced much of the previously-allocated locomotives and rolling stock used on the West Coast Main Line, namely [[British Rail Class 86|Classes 86]], [[British Rail Class 87|87]] and [[British Rail Class 90|90]] [[electric locomotive]]s and [[British Rail Mark 2|Mark 2]] and [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3]] coaching stock.<ref name = "samath">{{cite web |url= http://www.samathieson.com/bigtrain.htm |publisher=Mathieson, SA |date=March 2002 |title= Full tilt: Virgin's 140mph Pendolino trains |access-date=13 May 2011}}</ref> Prior to this, the fleet had been first introduced into passenger services from [[Birmingham International railway station|Birmingham International]] to Manchester Piccadilly on 23 July 2002 to coincide with the opening of the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]] in Manchester.<ref>[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/virgin-pendolino-starts.html "Virgin Pendolino starts."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328105354/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/virgin-pendolino-starts.html |date=28 March 2017 }} ''Rail Engineer'', 1 September 2002.</ref>

To help celebrate several high-profile occasions, such as Liverpool's role as [[European Capital of Culture]] during 2008, and the city's 800th anniversary in 2007, a £35&nbsp;million redevelopment grant was issued for the station and its immediate surroundings. The Lime Street Gateway Project saw the demolition of the aging retail parade and office block located in front of the station, and an improved frontage and public plaza constructed in its place.<ref name="RT1" /> Subsequently, Lime Street was voted ''Station of the Year 2010'' at the National Rail Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/8399064.Liverpool_Lime_Street_voted_nation_s_best_station/ |title=Liverpool Lime Street voted nation's best station |publisher=Newsquest Media Group |website=wirralglobe.co.uk |date=17 September 2010 |access-date=19 September 2010}}</ref> The development was overseen by [[English Partnerships]] and was completed in October 2010.<ref name="RT1" />

The main concourse features a pair of statues of comedian [[Ken Dodd]] and politician [[Bessie Braddock]], a work entitled "Chance Meeting" by sculptor [[Tom Murphy (artist)|Tom Murphy]], which were unveiled by Ken Dodd himself during June 2009.<ref name=plate>{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolmonuments.co.uk/statue/meeting/content/007_large.html |title=Ken Dodd & Bessie Braddock – Sculpture at Lime Street Station |publisher=Liverpool Monuments |access-date=5 January 2015}}</ref> On 31 August 2014, the [[Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex|Earl of Wessex]] unveiled a memorial to the [[Liverpool Pals]] at the station. The memorial, which comprises two bronze friezes, was also sculpted by Tom Murphy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/earl-wessex-unveils-liverpool-pals-7696528 |title=Watch: Earl of Wessex unveils the Liverpool Pals memorial at Lime Street Station |work=Liverpool Echo |date=31 August 2014 |access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref> During 2014, former Platforms 1–5 were fully refurbished by national rail infrastructure maintenance company [[Network Rail]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.murphygroup.co.uk/news/24m-platform-improvement-scheme-at-liverpool-lime-street-now-complete/ |title=£2.4m platform improvement scheme at Liverpool Lime Street now complete |work=Murphy Group |date=19 December 2014 |access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref>

====Electrification to Manchester and Wigan====
Completion of electrification of the former Liverpool and Manchester Railway's route, and the line to Wigan via St Helens Central, during May 2015 led to a recast of timetables. This included the introduction of a brand new [[TransPennine Express]] service to [[Newcastle railway station|Newcastle]] via Manchester Victoria, running alongside the existing service to {{rws|Scarborough}} via {{rws|Warrington Central}} and Manchester Piccadilly. It was unclear whether suitable electric rolling stock would be available in time for the completion of the work,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/next-train-liverpool-might-not-5783449 |title=The next train for Liverpool... might not exist |last=Cox |first=Charlotte |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=26 August 2013 |access-date=10 December 2013}}</ref> but it was confirmed during April 2014 that electric trains would be available to operate the new services. The first trains were introduced from March 2015, initially to {{rws|Manchester Airport}}, with services to {{rws|Wigan North Western}}, Manchester Victoria and {{rws|Warrington Bank Quay}} following over the course of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northernrail.org/news/7449 |title=Northern Announces Electric Trains For North West |publisher=Northern Rail |date=2 April 2014 |access-date=6 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liv.ac.uk/media/livacuk/environmentalsciences/docs/civicdesign/docs/limestreetreport2.pdf |title=Lime Street Station Stage Two Report |work=liv.ac.uk |access-date=29 October 2015}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

====2017 wall collapse====
At around 17:45 on 28 February 2017,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/15124880.Rail_services____will_not_resume_for_several_days____after_Liverpool_wall_collapse/| title=Train passengers face days of disruption after Liverpool wall collapse}}</ref> the station was cut off after a wall collapsed into the cutting between Lime Street and Edge Hill,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/wall-collapse-blocks-lines-to-liverpool-lime-street |title=Wall collapse blocks lines to Liverpool Lime Street |work=RAIL |date=1 March 2017 |access-date=2 March 2017}}</ref> causing more than 200 tonnes of debris to fall onto all four of the tracks running into the throat of the station.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-39141622| title=Liverpool Lime Street wall collapse: 60 tonnes cleared from tracks|work=BBC News|date=2 March 2017|access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> While the line was blocked, Virgin trains terminated at Runcorn and other trains terminated at Liverpool South Parkway.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-39124787 |title=Liverpool Lime Street wall collapse halts trains |work=BBC News |date=1 March 2017 |access-date=2 March 2017}}</ref> The debris was cleared up, with repairs made to the overhead wires, and the station reopened just over a week later on 8 March 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-39183313 |title=Liverpool Lime Street wall collapse: Station to reopen a day early |work=BBC News |date=7 March 2017 |access-date=8 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-lime-street-station-set-12702711 |title=Liverpool Lime Street station is set to reopen Tomorrow |work=Liverpool Echo |first=Connor |last=Dunn |date=7 March 2017 |access-date=8 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/rail-news/liverpool-lime-street-reopens-early-following-collapsed-wall-repairs |title=Liverpool Lime Street reopens early following collapsed wall repairs |work=Rail Technology Magazine |date=8 March 2017 |access-date=8 March 2017 |archive-date=9 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309063545/http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/rail-news/liverpool-lime-street-reopens-early-following-collapsed-wall-repairs |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====2017–18 station remodelling====
[[File:Liverpool Lime Street station 20181222 161656R.jpg|thumb|The station at night, December 2018]]

During 2017, work commenced upon a £340 million remodelling programme intended to improve Lime Street station by modernising its signalling systems, install new platforms and to better conform with current demands.<ref name=LE1>{{cite news |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/merseyside-train-passengers-take-strain-11068979|title=Merseyside train passengers will take the strain during £340m railway improvement work |work=Liverpool Echo |first=Neil |last=Hodgson |date=21 March 2016 |access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref> A major impetus for the work was the age of the station's signalling, the core of which dated from the 1940s and was increasingly difficult to acquire knowledgeable staff for its operation and maintenance; furthermore, as resignalling of the existing station layout offered only slightly less work than the implementation of an entirely fresh layout, only without the benefits of being able to do so, it was decided to take the rare occasion as a convenient chance to make various alterations and improvements at the same time.<ref name = "rail engsig16"/> Perhaps the most noticeable change made for the perspective of passengers was the creation of an additional pair of platforms, which were built in the large space available between platforms 7 and 8 (now 6 and 9); all of the other platforms were also lengthened and widened as a part of this work.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/03/21/340m-railway-upgrade-planned-for-liverpool/ |title=£340m railway upgrade planned for Liverpool |first=Aaron |last=Morby |work=Construction Enquirer |date=21 March 2016 |access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref><ref name=limestreetninedayrevamp>{{cite news |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/lime-street-station-faces-nine-11069077 |title=Lime Street station faces nine day closure during revamp in 2017 |first=Neil |last=Hodgson |work=Liverpool Echo |date=21 March 2016 |access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Former platforms at Liverpool Lime Street railway station 02.jpg|thumb|right|The former "cab road", between former platforms 7 and 8 (now 6 and 9), which was replaced by two new platforms]]

According to industry publication ''Rail Engineer'', the old layout of the station was relatively complex and posed some operational difficulties; many of the alterations sought to ease or eliminate some of these issues.<ref name = "rail engsig16"/> As the curving of Platform 6 (now 5) had been a source of long-term driver difficulty in maintaining signal sightings, the platform was reprofiled to be straighter, permanently ending the problem. The new layout provides five platforms on each side of the station; beyond being simpler, the change facilitates the departure speed being increased from 15 to 25&nbsp;mph and is also compatible with being maintained by modern mechanised equipment.<ref name = "rail engsig16"/> In conjunction with the layout changes, new Mk3D [[overhead line]] equipment was installed along the route between Lime Street station and Edge Hill. Control of the signalling was transferred over to the centralised [[Rail operating centre#ROC locations|Manchester Rail Operating Centre]].<ref name = "rail engsig16"/>

The remodelling of Lime Street had been deemed necessary in order to provide the capacity for additional services to Glasgow Central, which are set to start during 2019. Various new retail outlets, along with a [[supermarket]], were also established by work performed during the programme.<ref name=LE1 /> To accommodate the work, the station was mostly closed over a twenty-three day period, which started on 30 September 2017; during the latter stages of this blockade, limited services ran to/from Huyton and some destinations beyond this. The station closed from 2 June 2018 to 29 July 2018 to allow more of the remodelling to be undertaken.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Houghton |first1=Alistair |title=First look at Liverpool Lime Street station after stunning £140m refurbishment |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/first-look-liverpool-lime-street-14961828 |website=liverpoolecho |access-date=28 July 2018 |date=27 July 2018}}</ref>

==Station layout==
Liverpool Lime Street is divided into two sections: the main line station, which offers national inter-city and regional overground services including local [[City Line (Merseytravel)|City Line]] routes, and services on the Wirral Line on the Merseyrail network, located underground between the main line station and [[St George’s Hall, Liverpool|St George's Hall]].

==Main line station==
{{more citations needed section |date=October 2018}}
[[File:Great North Western Hotel 2018.jpg|thumb|right|The station is fronted by the [[North Western Hotel, Liverpool|Radisson RED Liverpool Hotel]], built in the Renaissance Revival style resembling a French Château]]

The main line station, known as '''Liverpool Lime Street High Level''' (station code: LIV)<ref name="railwaycodes.org.uk"/> is covered by the vast iron and glass roofs dating from the 1870s. The north train shed is fronted by a 1871 French Château styled building, occupied by the Radisson RED Liverpool Hotel. The hotel was scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article101830.html|title = Radisson RED Liverpool Hotel Opening in 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New images show interior of £20m Radisson RED |url=https://lbndaily.co.uk/new-images-show-interior-20m-radisson-red/ |access-date=31 July 2021 |work=Liverpool Business News |date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

Platforms 1 to 5 are shorter than 6 to 10, the latter dealing mainly with long-distance services to London, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield and Norwich. Access to platforms 1–5 is through a ticket inspection barrier similar to airport [[passport control]], while former platform 7 was gated with the creation of new shops and facilities. Former platforms 8 and 9 were still open.

In 2009, new buildings were erected in the old "cab road" area between former platforms 7 and 8. Until the 2018 station remodelling, these housed customer lounges, the Virgin Trains customer service point and an ATM; there were retail units which had coffee shops amongst the units.

{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+ Platform numbering<ref group="nb">Bracketed () items have no track.</ref>
! –2018
! 2018–
|-
| colspan="2" | ''Northern train shed''
|-
|1
|(0)
|-
|2
|1
|-
|3
|2
|-
|4
|3
|-
|5
|4
|-
|6
|5
|-
| colspan="2" | ''Southern train shed''
|-
|E
|(E)
|-
|7
|6
|-
|(Cab road)
|7
|-
|(Cab road)
|8
|-
|8
|9
|-
|9
|10
|}

There were also four non-passenger tracks.<ref>Trackatlas 2009. {{ISBN|978 1902336 97 8}}</ref> Three of these were [[headshunt]]s, created in the northern trainshed to turn locomotives around: Track A, in between former platforms 1 and 2; track B, serving former platforms 3 and 4; and track D, for former platforms 5 and 6. There is also a platform with no passenger service between former platforms 6 and 7, known as platform E, or sometimes affectionately as platform 6¾.
[[File:The_cutting_into_Liverpool_Lime_Street_station.jpg|thumb|right|alt=The view from the end of platform 6 looking along the cutting at Liverpool Lime Street|The view from the end of platform 6, looking along the cutting]]

===Facilities===
Toilets, booking offices, shops, a left-luggage office, taxi ranks and coffee bars are amongst the facilities provided. The main booking office is operated by [[Northern Trains]]. The concourse of the station contains several shops, including branches of [[M&S Simply Food]], [[Starbucks]], [[Upper Crust (restaurant chain)|Upper Crust]], [[Krispy Kreme]], [[Costa Coffee]], [[Boots UK|Boots]] and [[WHSmith]].<ref name="RT1" /> Car parking is managed by [[APCOA Parking|APCOA]].<ref name="RT1" /> The station also has two taxi ranks.<ref name="NR1">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/liv.aspx|title=Liverpool Lime Street (LIV)|work=National Rail|access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref>

===Public transport links===
The station has direct bus services to the [[Liverpool One bus station]] on the 10A and 18 route, from the bus station for Liverpool John Lennon Airport use services 86A (frequent & night services) and 500. The bus services are provided by [[Arriva North West]]

===Services===
The main station is currently served by six [[train operating companies]], serving a wide variety of destinations. Services out of Lime Street ({{as of|2024|12|lc=on}}) are as follows:

====East Midlands Railway====
[[File:East Midlands Trains Class 158, 158799, Liverpool Lime Street railway station (geograph 3819385).jpg|thumb|right|An [[East Midlands Trains]] [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158]] at former platform 6]]

[[East Midlands Railway]] operates an hourly service to [[Norwich railway station|Norwich]], via Warrington Central, Manchester Piccadilly, [[Sheffield station|Sheffield]], [[Nottingham railway station|Nottingham]] and {{stnlink|Peterborough}}. Late afternoon and evening services terminate or start at Nottingham.<ref>GB eNRT December 2022 Edition, Table 53 (Network Rail)</ref>

====TransPennine Express====
[[TransPennine Express]] currently operates two trains per hour on their ''North Route'' via the [[Liverpool to Manchester lines#Northern route (Chat Moss)|Chat Moss line]] to Manchester Victoria, continuing to {{rws|Hull}} and {{rws|Newcastle}}; one train per hour on their ''South Route'' via Warrington Central runs to Manchester Piccadilly and continues to {{rws|Cleethorpes}} via {{rws|Sheffield}}. Additionally, there are three trains per day to Glasgow Central, via the West Coast Main Line.<ref>{{NRtimes|21 & 39}}</ref>

====London Northwestern Railway====
[[File:Class 350 EMU, Lime Street Station, Liverpool (geograph 2974858).jpg|thumb|left|A [[London Midland]] [[British Rail Class 350|Class 350]] at former platform 8]]

[[London Northwestern Railway]] currently operates a half-hourly service to {{rws|Birmingham New Street}} via {{rws|Stafford}}, with one train per hour calling at the local stations between {{rws|Runcorn}} and {{rws|Crewe}}.<ref>{{NRtimes|76}}</ref>

====Northern Trains====
[[File:Northern Electrics Class 319 319364, platform 2, Liverpool Lime Street railway station (geograph 4500641).jpg|thumb|right|A [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]] at former platform 2. The new electric services to Manchester Victoria and Wigan North Western were both officially timetabled from 17 May 2015]]

[[Northern Trains]] is the main train operating company at Lime Street, operating the ticket office. Services include (in trains per hour):<ref>{{cite web |title = Northern Trains – Timetables |url = https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables |publisher = Northern |access-date = 11 December 2022}}</ref>
* 1 tph to {{rws|Manchester Airport}}, via {{rws|Lea Green}}, {{rws|Newton-le-Willows}} and {{rws|Manchester Piccadilly}}
* 1 tph to {{rws|Manchester Oxford Road}}, via Warrington Central
* 1 tph to {{rws|Warrington Central}} (stopping)
* 2 tph to {{rws|Wigan North Western}}, via {{rws|St Helens Central}}
* 1 tph to {{rws|Blackpool North}}, via {{rws|St Helens Central}}, {{rws|Wigan North Western}} and {{rws|Preston}}.

====Avanti West Coast====
[[File:Platform 7, Liverpool Lime Street (geograph 2973857).jpg|thumb|right|A Virgin Trains ''Pendolino'' at former platform 7]]

[[Avanti West Coast]] operates an hourly [[British Rail Class 390|Pendolino]] service to [[Euston railway station|London Euston]], calling at [[Runcorn railway station|Runcorn]], {{rws|Crewe}} and [[Milton Keynes Central railway station|Milton Keynes Central]] (peak services call additionally at [[Stafford railway station|Stafford]], [[Lichfield Trent Valley railway station|Lichfield Trent Valley]], [[Tamworth railway station|Tamworth]], [[Nuneaton railway station|Nuneaton]], [[Rugby railway station|Rugby]] and [[Watford Junction railway station|Watford Junction]]).<ref>GB eNRT December 2022 Edition, Table 65 (Network Rail)</ref>

====Transport for Wales====
[[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]] operates an hourly service to [[Chester railway station|Chester]], via Runcorn, using the [[Halton Curve]] with daily extensions to [[Wrexham General railway station|Wrexham General]] in the evening peak.<ref>{{NRtimes|December 2022|77}}</ref>

{{adjacent stations|noclear=y
  |system1=National Rail
  |note-row1={{s-rail-national|next=Runcorn|toc=Avanti West Coast|route=[[West Coast Main Line]] Liverpool branch|rows1=15}}
{{s-rail-national|next=Liverpool South Parkway|toc=East Midlands Railway|route=[[Liverpool–Manchester lines|Liverpool – Manchester]] – [[Hope Valley Line|Manchester – Sheffield]]| -[[Nottingham–Grantham line]] – [[East Coast Main Line|Short Part of East Coast Main Line from Grantham – Peterborough]] – [[Ely–Peterborough line|Peterborough – Ely line]] – [[Breckland line|Ely – Norwich]]|hide1=yes}}
{{s-rail-national|next=Mossley Hill|toc=London Northwestern Railway|route=Birmingham – Liverpool|hide1=yes}}
{{s-rail-national|next=Liverpool South Parkway|toc=Transport for Wales Rail|route=[[Halton Curve|Liverpool to Chester]]|hide1=yes|rows2=2}}
{{s-rail-national|next=Newton-le-Willows|toc=TransPennine Express|route=[[South TransPennine]]|hide1=yes|hide2=yes}}
{{s-rail-national|next=Newton-le-Willows|toc=TransPennine Express|route=[[North TransPennine]]|hide1=yes|rowsmid=2}}
{{s-rail-national|next=Lea Green|hide1=yes|hidemid=yes|toc=}}
{{s-rail-national|next=St Helens Central|toc=TransPennine Express|route=Anglo-Scottish Route <br /> Liverpool Lime Street to {{rws|Glasgow Central}}<br />Limited service|hide1=yes}}
{{s-rail-national|toc=Northern Trains|route=Liverpool Lime Street to {{rws|Manchester Oxford Road}} via {{rws|Warrington Central}}|hide1=yes|next=Edge Hill|rowsmid=2}}
{{s-rail-national|hidemid=yes|hide1=yes|next=Mossley Hill}}
{{s-rail-national|next=Huyton|toc=Northern Trains|route=Liverpool Lime Street to {{rws|Blackpool North}}|hide1=yes}}
{{s-rail-national|next=Edge Hill|toc=Northern Trains|route=[[Liverpool–Wigan line|Liverpool–Wigan North Western/Blackpool North Line]]|hide1=yes|rowsmid=2}}
{{s-rail-national|hidemid=yes|hide1=yes|next=Wavertree Technology Park}}
{{s-rail-national|toc=Northern Trains|route=Liverpool Lime Street to {{rws|Manchester Airport}} via {{rws|Newton-le-Willows}}|next=Edge Hill|hide1=yes|rowsmid=2}}
{{s-rail-national|hidemid=yes|hide1=yes|next=Wavertree Technology Park}}
}}

===Proposed services===
====CrossCountry Trains Consultation 2018====
The Department for Transport's 2018 consultation on the future of the CrossCountry franchise, which was due for renewal in 2019 but was later cancelled in September 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=Cross Country rail franchise 2018: prospectus |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cross-country-rail-franchise-2018-prospectus |publisher=[[Department for Transport]] |access-date=29 October 2018 |date=20 September 2018}}</ref> but cited Liverpool as a potential new destination for CrossCountry train service. If adopted this may restore some of the services lost in 2003. The Consultation closed in August 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/714761/cross-country-passenger-rail-franchise-public-consultation.pdf|title=Cross Country Passenger Rail Franchise Public Consultation Connecting Britain's Cities|work=Department for Transport|access-date=2 July 2018}}</ref> Despite the cancellation of the competition, the consultation responses will be used to help develop options for the future of the franchise so Liverpool may be considered as a potential destination in the future.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cross-country-rail-franchise-2018-prospectus|title = Cross Country rail franchise 2018: Prospectus| date=20 September 2018 }}</ref>

====Long Term Rail Strategy Proposals====
In a long term rail strategy by Merseytravel, new direct services to Cardiff, Bristol, Leicester, Derby, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley have been proposed.<ref>https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/Site%20Documents/LCR%20LTRS_Strategy%20Summary_01_08_14_Final%20Issue%20(6)_MTravel.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102002000/http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/Site%20Documents/LCR%20LTRS_Strategy%20Summary_01_08_14_Final%20Issue%20(6)_MTravel.pdf |date=2 January 2017 }} p.17</ref>

====Virgin Trains Open Access Proposal====
In June 2019, [[Virgin Trains]] lodged an application for an open access service from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street, calling at {{rws|Nuneaton}}, {{rws|Tamworth}}, {{rws|Lichfield Trent Valley}} and {{rws|Liverpool South Parkway}} to rival the future [[West Coast Partnership]] franchise Avanti West Coast from December 2022.<ref>[https://www.itv.com/news/2019-06-10/virgin-trains-plans-rival-london-liverpool-services-after-franchise-loss/ Virgin Trains plans rival London-Liverpool services after franchise loss] 11 June 2019</ref>

====West Coast Partnership====
In August 2019, it was announced that Avanti West Coast would operate the [[West Coast Partnership]] franchise from December 2019. As part of the award, the new operator will look at providing up to two trains per hour between Liverpool Lime Street and London Euston from December 2022, subject to approval by the [[Office of Rail and Road]].<ref>[http://maps.dft.gov.uk/west-coast/ West Coast Partnership franchise improvements map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814071923/http://maps.dft.gov.uk/west-coast/ |date=14 August 2019 }} Department for Transport; 14 August 2019.</ref>

====Future Northern and TransPennine Franchises====
In November 2018, it was revealed by Transport for the North several options for the future Northern and TransPennine franchise. Some options for Liverpool include extension of Liverpool to Crewe services towards Stoke-on-Trent and Alsager, increasing Liverpool to Blackpool North services and a new Liverpool to Leicester service via Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, Uttoxeter and Derby. The Leicester service could be operated by either TransPennine Express or the future East Midlands Franchise.<ref>Modern Railways December 2018 p.13</ref>

====TransPennine Franchise Agreement====
As part of the TransPennine Express (TPE) franchise agreement (awarded to FirstGroup, which started services in April 2016), there will be three new direct services per day to Glasgow Central via Preston along the West Coast Main Line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maps.dft.gov.uk/transpennine-express/index.html#liverpool|title=TransPennine Franchise Improvements: Liverpool|work=Department for Transport|access-date=3 March 2016|archive-date=29 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329174459/http://maps.dft.gov.uk/transpennine-express/index.html#liverpool|url-status=dead}}</ref>  The current hourly TPE Newcastle route was extended via {{rws|Morpeth}} to [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh Waverley]] in December 2019.

In 2005, [[Renaissance Trains]] proposed a [[Glasgow Trains|twice-daily service]] from Lime Street to [[Glasgow Central railway station|Glasgow Central]], with weekend trains running instead from {{rws|Blackpool North}} to Glasgow.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930222400/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rawm_Renaissance-glas_181006.PDF Briefing Concerning Glasgow Trains Proposal] Renaissance Trains 18 October 2006</ref><ref>"Renaissance for Glasgow-Nottingham" ''[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]'' issue 509 16 March 2005 page 12</ref> The proposal did not get enough investment backing, but was revived in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.renaissancetrains.com/about-renaissance-trains.html |title=About Renaissance Trains |access-date=31 August 2016 |archive-date=6 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106015320/http://www.renaissancetrains.com/about-renaissance-trains.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Chester, Wales and Shrewsbury via the Halton Curve====
The completion of the upgrade of the Halton Curvein 2018 provides a second rail route between Liverpool and Chester, and permits the introduction of new direct services from Liverpool to Wrexham, Llandudno and other parts of [[North Wales]].<ref name="NewWelshFranchise" /> 
As part of the new Wales & Borders franchise services to Chester were  introduced in May 2019 with future services to Llandudno and Shrewsbury every hour and services to Cardiff every two hours planned.<ref name="NewWelshFranchise">{{cite web |title=What's Happening in the Borders {{!}} Transport for Wales |url=https://tfw.wales/about-us/whats-happening/wales-borders |website=tfw.wales |access-date=2 July 2018 }}</ref>

====London Euston====
It was also proposed that, by 2016, [[London Midland]] would also operate an hourly service to London Euston (as an extension of its existing Trent Valley semi-fast service); however, this was rejected by the Office of Rail Regulation.{{update after|2016|8}} From May 2019 to December 2019, its successor London Northwestern Railway operated a London to Liverpool service via Birmingham New Street.<ref name=LNWR2019Timetable>{{cite web|url=https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/20190424/QjdvRNDL7nlbM7CzsT8LIp11bByjvunWduUpz6pAUYo/ln03_web.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527131841/https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/20190424/QjdvRNDL7nlbM7CzsT8LIp11bByjvunWduUpz6pAUYo/ln03_web.pdf|archive-date=27 May 2019|access-date=27 May 2019|title=Train times {{!}} Liverpool to Birmingham/London {{!}} 19 May to 14 December 2019|website=London Northwestern Railway}}</ref>

====Northern Franchise Agreement====
As part of the Northern franchise agreement (awarded to [[Arriva]], which started in April 2016), from December 2019 there will be a new ''Northern Connect'' service to Leeds, via Manchester Victoria and Bradford Interchange (replacing the current all-stations local service to Victoria).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maps.dft.gov.uk/northern/index.html|title=Northern Franchise Improvements|work=Department for Transport|access-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724064421/http://maps.dft.gov.uk/northern/index.html|archive-date=24 July 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> This is the first time there is a direct service through to Rochdale, Halifax and Bradford Interchange since the timetable change on 10 December 2006, when Northern terminated all services at Manchester Victoria.

==Underground station==
[[File:Merseyrail Class 507, 507003, Liverpool Lime Street underground station (geograph 4500645).jpg|thumb|right|The refurbished Wirral Line platform, at Lime Street underground station in 2015, with a Merseyrail [[British Rail Class 507|Class 507]] service]]
{{see also|List of underground stations of the Merseyrail network}}

The underground station, known as '''Liverpool Lime Street Low Level''' (station code: LVL)<ref name="railwaycodes.org.uk"/> consists of a single platform (platform A), alongside the 1970s ''Liverpool Loop tunnel'' and a ticket hall above. The station, opened in 1977, is connected to the main line station by means of a pedestrian subway and escalators, accessed via a long passageway which crosses beneath Lime Street itself, and by a lift from the main concourse.

===2013 refurbishment===
[[Network Rail]] announced in early 2013 that Lime Street was to be the third station to be refurbished as part of the £40&nbsp;million investment which would see all Merseyrail underground stations excluding [[Conway Park railway station|Conway Park]] refurbished. This included the refurbishment of the platform and the booking hall. The station refurbishment work took place between April and August 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-communities/lydiate-maghull/lydiate-maghull-news/2012/09/03/liverpool-james-street-station-partially-closed-as-part-of-40m-merseyrail-upgrade-100252-31751592/|first=John|last=Siddle|title=Liverpool Lime Street closed as part of £40m Merseyrail upgrade|date=3 September 2012|publisher=Trinity Mirror Merseyside|newspaper=Liverpool Echo|access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/refurbishment-work-liverpool-lime-street-5729543|title=End of line for loop disruption|first=Alan|last=Weston|work=Liverpool Echo|date=14 August 2013|access-date=20 September 2016}}</ref>

===Subway refurbishment===
The subway linking the underground station to the mainline station was refurbished in June 2014. The subway was fitted out with new tiles, lighting, flooring and automatic doors to some of the entrances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/Pages/Revamp-of-subway-linking-Lime-Street-stations-set-to-begin.aspx|title=Revamp of subway linking Lime Street stations set to begin|work=Merseytravel|date=11 April 2014|access-date=29 October 2015|archive-date=20 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420131228/http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/Pages/Revamp-of-subway-linking-Lime-Street-stations-set-to-begin.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Recent history===
The underground station had [[Wi-Fi]] installed in January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/merseyrail-introduces-free-wifi-five-10312873|title=Merseyrail introduces free wifi at five underground stations|work=Liverpool Echo|first=Lorna|last=Hughes|date=22 October 2015|access-date=3 March 2016}}</ref>

In March 2016, it was announced that the Wirral Line loop would be having its track renewed. The underground station was closed between 3 January 2017 and 18 June 2017 whilst the works took place.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.merseyrail.org/seasonal/wirral-track-renewal.aspx |title=Wirral Track Renewal |access-date=22 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323002137/http://www.merseyrail.org/seasonal/wirral-track-renewal.aspx |archive-date=23 March 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Services===
Services operate on a five-minute frequency Monday-Saturday, and between five- and ten-minute frequency on Sundays in the winter. All trains travel through to Liverpool Central and [[Birkenhead]], of which (in trains per hour):

* Four tph continue to {{rws|New Brighton}}
* Four tph continue to {{rws|West Kirby}}
* Four tph continue to {{rws|Chester}}
* Two tph continue to {{rws|Ellesmere Port}}.

To reach destinations on the [[Northern Line (Merseyrail)|Northern Line]] of the network, passengers must either use the Wirral Line and change at Liverpool Central or walk the short distance to the station.

{{rail start}}
{{rail line|previous=[[Moorfields railway station|Moorfields]]<br>''(one-way operation)''|next=[[Liverpool Central railway station|Liverpool Central]]<br>towards {{Stnlnk|New Brighton}}, {{Stnlnk|West Kirby}}, <br> {{Stnlnk|Chester}} or {{Stnlnk|Ellesmere Port}}|route=[[Merseyrail]]<br>[[Wirral Line]] |col={{Merseyrail colour|Wirral}} }}
{{s-end}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/smithsstrangersg00brow |first=Alexander |last=Brown |title=Smith's Strangers' guide to Liverpool |publisher=Benjamin Smith |location=Liverpool |year=1843 |oclc=860692352 }}
* {{cite book |first1=Jonathan |last1=Cadwallader |first2=Martin |last2=Jenkins |title=Merseyside Electrics |publisher=Ian Allan |year=2010 |isbn=9780711034174 |oclc=455806364 }}
* {{cite book |first1=William Gawin |last1=Herdman |author-link=William Gawin Herdman |title=Herdman's Liverpool |publisher=Gallery Press |year=1968 |isbn=978-0-900389-15-3 |oclc=55549921 }}
* {{cite book |title=British Diesel locomotives of the 1950s and '60s |first=Greg |last=Morse |year=2016 |publisher=Bloomsbury Shire Publications |location=Oxford |isbn=9781784420338 |oclc=953852678 }}
* {{cite book |first1=Richard |last1=Pollard |first2=Nikolaus |last2=Pevsner |title=Lancashire: Liverpool and the South West |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2006 |isbn=9780300109108 |oclc=63396571 }}
* {{cite book |first1=Joseph |last1=Sharples |first2=Richard |last2=Pollard |title=Liverpool |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2004 |isbn=9780300102581 |oclc=53360573 }}
* {{cite book |title=Liverpool and the Mersey |first=Nigel |last=Welbourn |series=Lost Lines |publisher=Ian Allan |year=2008 |isbn=9780711031906 |oclc=931377579 }}
* {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/railwaysgreatbr00whisgoog |title=The Railways of Great Britain and Ireland Practically Described and Illustrated |first=Francis |last=Whishaw |edition=2nd |location=London |publisher=John Weale |year=1842 |oclc=833076248 }}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite magazine|title=Lime St. plan|magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail Enthusiast]]|publisher=EMAP National Publications|date=October 1982|page=49|issn=0262-561X|oclc=49957965}}
* {{cite magazine|title=Lime Street derailment|page=50|date=February 1983|magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail Enthusiast]]|publisher=EMAP National Publications|issn=0262-561X|oclc=49957965}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BoT_LiverpoolLimeStreet1850.pdf|title=London and North Western Railway, Appendix No. 31|work=Board of Trade|date=13 July 1850}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BoT_LiverpoolLimeStreet1871.pdf|title=London and North Western Railway|work=Board of Trade|date=23 September 1871}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BoT_LiverpoolLimeStreet1907.pdf|title=London and North Western Railway|work=Board of Trade|date=10 May 1907}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MoT_LiverpoolLimeStreet1924.pdf|title=London Midland and Scottish Railway|work=Ministry of Transport|date=26 August 1924}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MoT_LimeStreet1949.pdf|title=Report on the collision which occurred on 19th November 1949 at Lime Street Station, Liverpool|work=Ministry of Transport}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/RSSB_Liverpool2004.pdf|title=Formal Inquiries|work=Rail Safety and Standards Board|date=15 May 2006}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/RAIB_LiverpoolLimeSt2017.pdf|title=Partial collapse of a wall onto open railway lines, Liverpool - 28 February 2017|work=Rail Accident Investigation Branch}}
* {{cite book|title=Modern railway working: A practical treatise|first1=John|last1=Macaulay|first2=Cyril|last2=Hall|location=London|publisher=Gresham Publishing Company|oclc=5911683}} One of the volumes contains a track diagram of the station around 1912. This includes the earlier signal box, in between the tracks at the station throat, the locomotive turntables on either side of the station throat and, on the north side of the station, the goods yard with wagon turntables.

==External links==
{{commons category|Liverpool Lime Street railway station}}
* Station information for [https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/LIV/details.html Liverpool Lime Street] from [[National Rail]]
{{Merseyrail info lnk|44|Liverpool Lime Street (Underground)}}

{{Merseytravel City Line}}
{{Merseyrail Wirral Line}}
{{Railway stations served by Avanti West Coast}}
{{Railway stations served by East Midlands Railway}}
{{Railway stations served by Merseyrail}}
{{Railway stations served by Transport for Wales}}
{{Railway stations served by West Midlands Trains}}
{{Railway stations served by Northern Trains}}
{{Major railway stations in Britain}}
{{Merseyside railway stations}}
{{Liverpool B&S}}

[[Category:Grade II listed buildings in Liverpool]]
[[Category:Grade II listed railway stations]]
[[Category:Merseyrail underground stations|Lime Street]]
[[Category:Network Rail managed stations|Liverpool Lime Street]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Liverpool]]
[[Category:Former London and North Western Railway stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1836]]
[[Category:Railway stations opened by British Rail]] <!-- Low-level -->
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1977]] <!-- L.L. -->
[[Category:Railway stations served by East Midlands Railway]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by TransPennine Express]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by West Midlands Trains]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by Northern]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by Avanti West Coast]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by Merseyrail]]
[[Category:DfT Category A stations]] <!-- High-level portion only -->
[[Category:DfT Category D stations]] <!-- Low-level portion only -->
[[Category:Redevelopment projects in Liverpool|Lime Street Gateway]]
[[Category:John Cunningham railway stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by Transport for Wales Rail]]
[[Category:Stations on the West Coast Main Line]]