FACILITIES at the revamped Lea Green railway station are awaiting sign-off to be opened for customer use.
The station has undergone a £15m transformation and photographs depict the new-look facilities at the site.
The project, which had initially aimed for a completion date during the summer of last year, has been hit with delays due to bad weather hindering groundworks.
A key part of the station upgrade has involved the previously oversubscribed car park being replaced with a modern decked car park.
Lea Green station (Image: St Helens Star)
This is set to increase park and ride capacity to around 450 vehicles, enabling it to become a key commuter station for people who work in neighbouring cities.
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Significant upgrades include a new station building at Lea Green with waiting room, toilets and other customer facilities.
Lea Green station (Image: St Helens Star)
Development has progressed, albeit behind schedule, with previous announcements suggesting public transport bosses were aiming for a completion date of summer 2023.
However, delays due to wet weather over last summer put back brickwork and then the project was hit by further delays.
In March, a Liverpool City Region Combined Authority spokesperson confirmed the construction works were to be completed by the spring.
Lea Green station (Image: St Helens Star)
They added: “Although work on site will be finished at that point, the new facilities cannot be brought into customer and staff use immediately as they require authorisation from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), a requirement for all rail infrastructure projects of this type.
“We anticipate the facilities will be open for passenger use in summer 2024. We will work together with the ORR and partners to get the facilities signed-off for use as soon as possible.
“Whilst this work takes place customers can still access rail services from the station during this time. We thank passengers for their patience throughout the works and look forward to them being able to use the new facilities soon.”
Lea Green station's renovation includes a new car park (Image: St Helens Star)
When asked for an update this week by the Star, the spokesperson said no date has yet been set yet as the facilities are still awaiting sign-off from the ORR to be opened to the public.
Lea Green station has remained open for passenger use throughout the duration of the project.
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