Mayor Steve Rotheram has announced an unprecedented £1.6 billion investment in Liverpool City Region’s public transport network, promising new railway stations, rapid transit links, and smart ticketing across the entire system.
Described as the city region’s largest-ever transport upgrade, the plans aim to better connect communities—including major new housing developments—while boosting productivity, driving economic growth, and unlocking regeneration opportunities.
The funding comes from the Transport for City Region (TCR) settlement, secured in June and confirmed by the Chancellor ahead of this year’s Spending Review. Liverpool City Region is the first Combined Authority to set out its ambitious blueprint for TCR investment, paving the way for faster, greener, and more integrated journeys.
Network improvements are expected to deliver a 20% increase in residents able to reach Liverpool City Centre by public transport within 30 minutes, alongside a significant rise in the number of people directly linked to town centres across the region. The plans also promise a 20% increase in residents living within 800 metres of a step-free rail station, ensuring fairer access across the six boroughs: Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, and Wirral.
Mayor Steve Rotheram said:
“This £1.6 billion settlement is the largest transport investment in our region’s history and a massive statement of intent towards delivering the greener, more accessible, more affordable and better-connected public transport system our 1.6 million residents deserve.
Fundamentally, this long-term plan is about inclusive growth. That means new, step-free rail stations, rapid transit links, and smart ticketing that connects communities directly to jobs, new homes, cultural attractions, and of course major regeneration projects.”
Driving Housing and Regeneration
A key focus of the investment is to support thousands of new homes in locations well connected to major employers and growth industries. The funding will unlock large-scale regeneration projects in Bootle, Huyton, Birkenhead, and other town centres, including Liverpool North, which could deliver 10,000 new homes—many affordable—create thousands of jobs, and transform public spaces through active travel infrastructure, highway upgrades, and enhanced connectivity.
Building on Momentum
This latest investment follows several years of record transport spending in the region, including:
- A £500m fleet of state-of-the-art trains
- Over 100 new all-electric, zero-emission buses
- Extension of the Merseyrail network to Headbolt Lane in Kirkby
- Construction of the first new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years
The proposals, due before the Combined Authority this month, aim to accelerate delivery of Mayor Rotheram’s vision for a greener, more accessible, and better-connected network. They also align with the Liverpool City Region’s Local Transport Plan (LTP4), which sets out how the network will evolve by 2040, informed by resident feedback. The next consultation round is scheduled for early next year.
How Will the £1.6bn Be Spent?
- Rail Investment: The largest-ever investment in local rail station infrastructure, including new stations at Carr Mill (St Helens), Woodchurch (Wirral), and Daresbury (Halton), plus committed schemes at Liverpool Baltic and a redeveloped Runcorn station. A new link to Sci-Tech Daresbury is expected to support 8,000 new jobs.
- Rapid Transit: £100m will fund a new Rapid Transit network, offering fast, modern services between Liverpool city centre, John Lennon Airport, and North Liverpool. Inspired by Belfast’s Glider, the system will improve access to major destinations such as Anfield and Everton’s Hill Dickinson stadium, using traffic priority measures and road upgrades.
- Bus Transformation: Plans include a brand-new fleet, new depot infrastructure, and the rollout of franchising—returning buses to public control for the first time in nearly 40 years.
- Seamless Travel: Over £60m will support multimodal smart ticketing and better integration between rail, bus, and active travel, alongside major projects like the new St Helens transport interchange.
- Safer, Smarter Roads: More than £300m will upgrade key corridors, improve road infrastructure for cars and buses, and create new walking and cycling links, supporting the region’s goal of zero road traffic deaths or injuries.
Image credit: iStock
Video Credit: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
