Liverpool James Street railway station (commonly shortened to James Street station[1]) is a railway station located in the centre of Liverpool, England, situated on the Wirral Line of the Merseyrail network. James Street is an underground station with access to the platforms via lifts from the James Street booking hall. At certain times the platforms are accessed via a pedestrian tunnel from the India Buildings on Water Street. As of 2013/14, James Street was the fifth-busiest station on the Merseyrail network.
Water Street entrance sign for James Street station from just after electrification of the Mersey Railway.
The station opened as the original Liverpool terminus of the Mersey Railway Tunnel in 1886. James Street Station and Hamilton Square underground station in Birkenhead are the oldest deep-level underground stations in the world. The only other underground railway in 1886, London Underground, had stations just below the street surface, built using the cut-and-cover method. The stations are so deep they required lifts to access, and were the world's first lift-accessed stations. The lifts were initially hydraulically operated. There were originally two platforms, either side of a twin-track tunnel.
The Mersey railway tunnel was extended under dry land to Liverpool Central station in 1892, changing James Street's status to a through station. By this time, there were trains from Liverpool branching from Hamilton Square station terminating at Birkenhead Park and Rock Ferry stations in Birkenhead. The line was electrified in 1903.[2] Through trains to West Kirby and New Brighton commenced in 1938, when the former Wirral Railway routes were electrified.
In 1941, during the Liverpool Blitz, the Luftwaffe bombed the surface building of the station, damaging the then famous James Street hydraulic accumulator tower so badly it required demolition.[3] A new surface building was built in the 1960s.
The station was rebuilt in the 1970s, opening in 1977, as a creation of the Merseyrail network. A new single-track tunnel known as the Loop was constructed being a part of the Wirral Line under Liverpool's city centre. The Loop ran west from the Mersey Railway tunnel via a newly constructed third platform at James Street, then onto Moorfields, Liverpool Lime Street and Liverpool Central, and back to James Street rejoining the Mersey railway tunnel just to the east of the station.
The eastern section of the original tunnel between Liverpool Central and James Street is used by the Northern Line. The remaining western section of the tunnel, which is not used by either the Wirral Line or Northern Line, was retained to provide a connection between the two for moving empty electric trains between depots at Birkenhead North and Kirkdale. Of the original two platforms at James Street, only the westbound remains in regular use. Platform 2, the original eastbound platform, is kept in near-original condition, being used only when trains are prevented from using the loop itself.[4]
The station and surrounding area were subject to a £2million package of improvements during 2007–8.[5] Further refurbishment of platforms, concourses and the booking hall were undertaken in 2012–13, as part of a £40 million investment from Network Rail which saw all Merseyrail underground stations (excluding Conway Park) refurbished.[6][7] Work to improve the little-used Platform 2 and the Water Street entrance were completed during 2015.[8][9]
Station layout
The frieze at the rarely used Platform 2 of James Street station, before refurbishment.
Platform 1 at James Street station, after refurbishment
James Street station has three platforms, although only two see regular use. Platforms 2 and 3 are situated on either side of the original Mersey Railway tunnel, and platform 1 in the newer tunnel on the loop line. Only platforms 1 and 3 are in regular use for the loop line, Platform 3 by trains westbound to the Wirral and Platform 1 by trains eastbound towards Liverpool. Platform 2, which is situated on the empty stock line opposite platform 3, has not normally been used by passenger services since the opening of the loop line. This platform has a frieze artwork, on the wall.
The junction at the western end of the station (where the loop leaves the original line in order to pass through platform 1) is known as Mann Island Junction.[10]
Occasionally, the loop line may close to allow for maintenance to occur.[11][12][13] On these occasions, platform 2 is brought back into use to allow trains arriving from the Wirral to terminate and reverse there back onto the westbound line (either directly or via platform 3).
There are two entrances to the station. The main entrance on James Street itself has four lifts to reach the platforms from street level. It also has a small newsagents inside. The Water Street entrance uses a combination of staircases and a ramp over 150 yards long which goes from ground level to just above the platforms. The Water Street entrance is only in use during certain times of the day and is closed at weekends. It is open between 7am and 10am, then again from 3pm to 6pm.[14]
Facilities
The station is staffed, during all opening hours, and has platform CCTV.[1] There are toilets, a payphone, an ATM, booking office and live departure and arrival screens, for passenger information. The station does not have a car park, though there is a cycle rack for eight bicycles. Step-free access to the platforms, for wheelchairs and prams, is possible, via the lifts.[15]
Services
Trains operate every five minutes (Monday-Saturday daytime) around the Liverpool city centre loop to Moorfields, Liverpool Lime Street and Liverpool Central. In the other direction, trains operate every five minutes to Hamilton Square, from where they continue every 15 minutes to each of New Brighton and West Kirby with six trains an hour to Hooton. From Hooton, trains continue every 15 minutes to Chester and every 30 minutes to Ellesmere Port. At other times, trains operate every 30 minutes to each of the four destinations, giving a service every 5–10 minutes to Hamilton Square.[16] These services are all provided by Merseyrail's fleet of Class 507 and Class 508EMUs.
^4 Midlands & North West (Map) (2nd ed.). Railway Track Diagrams. Cartography by John Yonge. Trackmaps. March 2005. p. 40 Hunts Cross - Moorfields. ISBN0-9549866-0-1.
^(PDF). Merseyrail travel information booklet. Merseyrail. April 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
^(PDF). Merseytravel website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
^Manning, Craig (11 July 2013). "Wirral rail users face months of disruption as Liverpool Loop work begins". Wirral Globe. Newsquest (North West) Ltd. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
liverpool, james, street, railway, station, former, liverpool, overhead, railway, station, james, street, railway, station, liverpool, overhead, railway, confused, with, liverpool, james, railway, station, commonly, shortened, james, street, station, railway, . For the former Liverpool Overhead Railway station see James Street railway station Liverpool Overhead Railway Not to be confused with Liverpool St James railway station Liverpool James Street railway station commonly shortened to James Street station 1 is a railway station located in the centre of Liverpool England situated on the Wirral Line of the Merseyrail network James Street is an underground station with access to the platforms via lifts from the James Street booking hall At certain times the platforms are accessed via a pedestrian tunnel from the India Buildings on Water Street As of 2013 14 James Street was the fifth busiest station on the Merseyrail network Liverpool James StreetJames Street station entranceGeneral informationLocationLiverpool LiverpoolEnglandCoordinates53 24 17 N 2 59 31 W 53 4048 N 2 9919 W 53 4048 2 9919 Coordinates 53 24 17 N 2 59 31 W 53 4048 N 2 9919 W 53 4048 2 9919Grid referenceSJ341902Managed byMerseyrailTransit authorityMerseytravelPlatforms3 Only 2 platforms see regular use Other informationStation codeLVJFare zoneC1ClassificationDfT category EHistoryOriginal companyMersey RailwayPre groupingMersey RailwayPost groupingMersey RailwayLondon Midland Region of British RailwaysKey dates1 February 1886OpenedPassengers2017 183 466 million2018 193 075 million2019 203 464 million2020 210 759 million2021 222 263 millionNotesPassenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road Contents 1 History 2 Station layout 3 Facilities 4 Services 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Sources 7 External linksHistory Edit Water Street entrance sign for James Street station from just after electrification of the Mersey Railway The station opened as the original Liverpool terminus of the Mersey Railway Tunnel in 1886 James Street Station and Hamilton Square underground station in Birkenhead are the oldest deep level underground stations in the world The only other underground railway in 1886 London Underground had stations just below the street surface built using the cut and cover method The stations are so deep they required lifts to access and were the world s first lift accessed stations The lifts were initially hydraulically operated There were originally two platforms either side of a twin track tunnel The Mersey railway tunnel was extended under dry land to Liverpool Central station in 1892 changing James Street s status to a through station By this time there were trains from Liverpool branching from Hamilton Square station terminating at Birkenhead Park and Rock Ferry stations in Birkenhead The line was electrified in 1903 2 Through trains to West Kirby and New Brighton commenced in 1938 when the former Wirral Railway routes were electrified In 1941 during the Liverpool Blitz the Luftwaffe bombed the surface building of the station damaging the then famous James Street hydraulic accumulator tower so badly it required demolition 3 A new surface building was built in the 1960s The station was rebuilt in the 1970s opening in 1977 as a creation of the Merseyrail network A new single track tunnel known as the Loop was constructed being a part of the Wirral Line under Liverpool s city centre The Loop ran west from the Mersey Railway tunnel via a newly constructed third platform at James Street then onto Moorfields Liverpool Lime Street and Liverpool Central and back to James Street rejoining the Mersey railway tunnel just to the east of the station The eastern section of the original tunnel between Liverpool Central and James Street is used by the Northern Line The remaining western section of the tunnel which is not used by either the Wirral Line or Northern Line was retained to provide a connection between the two for moving empty electric trains between depots at Birkenhead North and Kirkdale Of the original two platforms at James Street only the westbound remains in regular use Platform 2 the original eastbound platform is kept in near original condition being used only when trains are prevented from using the loop itself 4 The station and surrounding area were subject to a 2million package of improvements during 2007 8 5 Further refurbishment of platforms concourses and the booking hall were undertaken in 2012 13 as part of a 40 million investment from Network Rail which saw all Merseyrail underground stations excluding Conway Park refurbished 6 7 Work to improve the little used Platform 2 and the Water Street entrance were completed during 2015 8 9 Station layout Edit The frieze at the rarely used Platform 2 of James Street station before refurbishment Platform 1 at James Street station after refurbishment James Street station has three platforms although only two see regular use Platforms 2 and 3 are situated on either side of the original Mersey Railway tunnel and platform 1 in the newer tunnel on the loop line Only platforms 1 and 3 are in regular use for the loop line Platform 3 by trains westbound to the Wirral and Platform 1 by trains eastbound towards Liverpool Platform 2 which is situated on the empty stock line opposite platform 3 has not normally been used by passenger services since the opening of the loop line This platform has a frieze artwork on the wall The junction at the western end of the station where the loop leaves the original line in order to pass through platform 1 is known as Mann Island Junction 10 Occasionally the loop line may close to allow for maintenance to occur 11 12 13 On these occasions platform 2 is brought back into use to allow trains arriving from the Wirral to terminate and reverse there back onto the westbound line either directly or via platform 3 There are two entrances to the station The main entrance on James Street itself has four lifts to reach the platforms from street level It also has a small newsagents inside The Water Street entrance uses a combination of staircases and a ramp over 150 yards long which goes from ground level to just above the platforms The Water Street entrance is only in use during certain times of the day and is closed at weekends It is open between 7am and 10am then again from 3pm to 6pm 14 Facilities EditThe station is staffed during all opening hours and has platform CCTV 1 There are toilets a payphone an ATM booking office and live departure and arrival screens for passenger information The station does not have a car park though there is a cycle rack for eight bicycles Step free access to the platforms for wheelchairs and prams is possible via the lifts 15 Services EditTrains operate every five minutes Monday Saturday daytime around the Liverpool city centre loop to Moorfields Liverpool Lime Street and Liverpool Central In the other direction trains operate every five minutes to Hamilton Square from where they continue every 15 minutes to each of New Brighton and West Kirby with six trains an hour to Hooton From Hooton trains continue every 15 minutes to Chester and every 30 minutes to Ellesmere Port At other times trains operate every 30 minutes to each of the four destinations giving a service every 5 10 minutes to Hamilton Square 16 These services are all provided by Merseyrail s fleet of Class 507 and Class 508 EMUs See also EditList of underground stations of the Merseyrail networkReferences Edit a b Station Facilities for Liverpool James Street National Rail Retrieved 23 March 2009 Gahan 1983 p 32 Gahan 1983 p 56 Maund 2001 pp 10 43 44 James Street improvements Merseytravel website Merseytravel 21 May 2008 Archived from the original on 26 December 2008 Retrieved 2 March 2009 James Street Refurbishment Merseyrail website Archived from the original on 3 April 2013 James Street Refurbishment Water Street Entrance Closure Archived 8 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine James Street Platform 2 Refurbishment Complete 4 Midlands amp North West Map 2nd ed Railway Track Diagrams Cartography by John Yonge Trackmaps March 2005 p 40 Hunts Cross Moorfields ISBN 0 9549866 0 1 Liverpool Loop Closure PDF Merseyrail travel information booklet Merseyrail April 2007 Archived from the original PDF on 26 September 2007 Retrieved 2 March 2009 Liverpool Loop Closure PDF Merseytravel website Archived from the original PDF on 19 April 2009 Retrieved 28 April 2009 Manning Craig 11 July 2013 Wirral rail users face months of disruption as Liverpool Loop work begins Wirral Globe Newsquest North West Ltd Retrieved 18 November 2013 Water Street Entrance Opening Times Liverpool James Street Station Plan National Rail Retrieved 19 December 2013 Wirral Line Train Times 8 December 2013 to 17 May 2014 PDF Merseyrail Archived from the original PDF on 19 December 2013 Retrieved 18 December 2013 Sources Edit Gahan John W 1983 The Line Beneath The Liners Birkenhead Countryvise ISBN 978 0 907 76840 1 Maund T B 2001 Merseyrail Electrics The Inside Story Sheffield NBC Books OCLC 655126526 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Liverpool James Street railway station Train times and station information for Liverpool James Street railway station from National RailStation information for Liverpool James Street railway station from MerseyrailPreceding station National Rail Following stationHamilton Square towards New Brighton West Kirby Chester or Ellesmere Port MerseyrailWirral Line Moorfieldstowards Liverpool Central Liverpool Central one way operation Ferry servicesTerminus Mersey FerriesCommuter ferry SeacombeTerminus Isle of Man Steam Packet CompanyHigh Speed Catamaran Isle Of Man Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Liverpool James Street railway station amp oldid 1124101558, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
