Liverpool South Parkway Interchange

Merseytravel's biggest project - the £32 million Liverpool South Parkway (LSP) Interchange - opened its doors to the public for the first time 11th June 2006.

The interchange will revolutionise public transport in South Liverpool, providing fast and efficient links to Liverpool John Lennon Airport as well as access to up to 11,000 jobs planned for the area.

The eco-friendly futuristic interchange has already won awards and accolades for its design, use of building techniques and its potential contribution to the regeneration of the Speke and Garston Pathway areas.

Councilor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, said: "Liverpool South Parkway is the most modern station in Europe and will be a great asset to the people of Merseyside and beyond, linking them to the airport and job opportunities. We are delighted to have reached this major milestone.

"We are delivering on all our projects in advance of 2007 and 2008, but this is a project with huge long-term benefits for very many people."

The engineer in charge of the works is Neil Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel. He is both a chartered electrical and mechanical engineer.

Neil Scales, said: "LSP is a state of the art interchange that is breaking new ground not just nationally but internationally. It is unique, fit for purpose and is pioneering new forms of sustainability in transport infrastructure.

"It is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through partnership working, innovation and imagination."

Find out which buses stop at Liverpool South Parkway on the Merseyside Journey Planner.

Liverpool South Parkway joins together the two stations of Allerton and Garston. The major features of the scheme include:

· A single integrated booking office and passenger information and enquiry point for bus rail and airport journeys;
· Incorporated bus station and taxi rank;
· High frequency bus shuttle to Liverpool John Lennon Airport;
· A 240 space Park-and-Ride car park free to users of the facility;
· A secure and safe environment with CCTV and customer information systems.
· Secure motor bike and cycle storage
· Fully accessible facility incorporating 32 person lifts

A steering group, headed by Merseytravel, has overseen the project. Its members include: Liverpool City Council; Liverpool Land Development Company; Government Office North West; Liverpool John Lennon Airport; Network Rail; First North Western Trains/Northern Rail and Serco Nedrail, who are the holders of the Merseyrail Electrics franchise.

Initial services to LSP are included within the half hourly service from Manchester Oxford Road to Lime Street and an hourly service to Crewe and Birmingham as well as the regular Merseyrail network services. Call Traveline on 0870 608 2 608 for details.

Later this year, services to Sheffield and the East Midlands will be introduced and Merseytravel will be exploring further routes in advance of the 2008 European Capital of Culture Year.

From December this year, it is envisaged that there will be additional peak time services to and from Manchester and beyond with additional services on Merseyrail into the evenings. Plans are also being developed to operate a new stopping shuttle service from LSP to Liverpool Lime Street.

From May 2007, the aim is to introduce an additional series of train services across the Trans-Pennine network with further service enhancements with each timetable change.

Main contractors on the project were Edmund Nuttall, one of Britain's largest civil engineer contractors. The architects for the project were Jefferson Sheard.