The
Merseyrail
Study
Enhancing its role within the
Liverpool City Region
A Research Project by Cass Associates and the Department
of Civic Design, the University of Liverpool
Background
» Progressive, successful city regions
are investing heavily in their public
transport infrastructure, especially
rail, as an integral part of their
economic, social and
environmental strategies.
» Merseyside already has an
effective, efficient rail system
linking many parts of the city
region.
» The Cass/Civic Design project
examines how the Merseyrail
network could enhance its role in
stimulating investment and
economic growth, and contribute
to social and environmental
regeneration.
» Examples
o Beijing BCR
o London Overground
o San Francisco Bay Area (BART)
o Rhein/Ruhr S-Bahn
Methodology
» Excluded
o City Centre stations (high usage)
o Lines not operated by Merseyrail
» Took a 1km catchment area (10 mins walk)
o 314 hectares
» Studied six stations in detail chosen to;
o Be representative of all station types
o Have an even Liverpool/Wirral split
The Merseyrail Network
» Rail Track developed since 1830
o 1886 Cross-River Tunnel
» Length of Network
o 75 route miles
o Including 6.5 miles of tunnel
» Number of Stations
o 66 stations, 5 underground
» Total Passengers
o 40,081,911 (2009)
o +42% growth on 2002
» “Most reliable” in the UK
o 96.33% services running 2009-10
Existing Investment Value
£2.5 Billion
The Merseyrail Study
2010
Initial
Research
2011
Major
Study
2012
“…to investigate how the rail
network might increase its role in
promoting economic growth and
regeneration within the Liverpool
City Region”
Delivery of
Live Project
Footfall
»
»
»
2009 Footfall Data
o Excludes City Centre Stations
Top 3 stations
o Southport
(3,108,000)
o Kirkby
(1,838,000)
o Sand Hills
(1,563,000)
Lowest 3 stations
o Bank Hall
(179,000)
o Walton
(247,000)
o Hall Road
(265,000)
Footfall (2009)
1%
400,000
2%
800,000
3%
1,200,000
Footfall (Selected Stations)
Bank Hall
179
Bidston
394
Birkenhead North
837
Hall Road
265
Rock Ferry
716
St Michael's
825
Footfall (Thousands)
Footfall (2009)
1%
400,000
2%
800,000
3%
1,200,000
Catchment - Population
18000
16000
17,000
17,000
54
54
15,900
13,200
14000
12000
10000
8,000
8000
5,900
6000
4000
2000
51
26
42
19
0
Bank Hall
Bidston
#
Birkenhead North
Density (people/hectare)
Hall Road
Rock Ferry
St Michael's
Catchment - Deprivation
18000
16000
39%
23%
Rock Ferry
St Michael's
66%
41%
14000
12000
10000
55%
8000
0%
6000
4000
2000
0
Bank Hall
Bidston
Birkenhead North
Hall Road
Deprivation
(12 & 13 of P2 People & Places Geodemographic Classification)
St. Michael’s
» Catchment Size
o 17,000 people
» Footfall (2009)
o 825,000
» Deprivation Index
o 23%
St. Michael’s
St. Michael’s
Strengths
Weaknesses
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
Close to major traffic route into city centre
Good Local Catchment (94% pedestrian access)
Access to Festival Gardens and Promenade
Potential for Park and Ride
Adjacent to large areas of valuable green space
Significant areas of land with potential for
improvement
Diverse local population (23% disadvantaged)
Relatively inaccessible, poorly serviced station
No local services close to station
Little car or cycle parking or bus connections
Access through constricted residential area
Some immediate surroundings in poor condition
500m
1km
St. Michael’s - Overview
St. Michael’s - Opportunities
St. Michael’s Land Opportunities
Derelict Land
Underused Land
500m
1km
Parks/Green space
Bank Hall
» Catchment Size
o 15,900 people
» Footfall (2009)
o 179,000
» Deprivation Index
o 66%
Bank Hall
Strengths
Weaknesses
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
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Located on major road into city centre
Significant areas of underused land
Good access to bus services
Close to major employment areas
Good local catchment
o
»
o
o
17,000
Proximity to Leeds-Liverpool Canal
Proximity to three other stations
No safe or convenient car or bike parking
Very limited local services close to station
Low usage despite high catchment
»
»
Footfall 180,000
Catchment 17,000
Existing commercial uses struggling
Poor quality, insecure local environment
Bank Hall
500m
1km
Bank Hall General Plan
Bank Hall - Overview
Bank Hall- Opportunities
Bank Hall Land Opportunities
Derelict Land
Underused Land
500m
1km
Parks/Green space
Birkenhead North
» Catchment Size
o 17,000 people
» Footfall (2009)
o 837,000
» Deprivation Index
o 41%
Birkenhead North
Strengths
Weaknesses
»
»
»
»
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Regeneration opportunity immediately
outside station
Existing infrastructure already focused on
station
High footfall considering catchment size
o
o
Footfall 837,000
Catchment 15,900
Wide-scale dereliction of docks
Presence/fear of crime and vandalism
Poor public transport coordination
Birkenhead North - Overview
500m
1km
Birkenhead North General Plan
Birkenhead North - Opportunities
Birkenhead North Land OpportunitiesDerelict Land
Underused Land
500m
1km
Parks/Green space
How Can This Approach Work?
» More effective regeneration efforts
o Co-ordinated investment and delivery
o New opportunities for investment and improvement
» Increasing land and property values
o Improved asset management
o Increase commercial activity
o Increased quality of life
» Network efficiency
o
o
o
o
Improved accessibility to the network (i.e. by removing obstacles)
Focus planning and investment around mass-transit hub
Improved mobility and opportunity for local people
Increase use of the rail network, supporting further investment in the network