A campaign group which has been calling for improvements to take place at Southport Train Station for the past decade is delighted to see work currently taking place.
The owners of Station Approach, working in close collaboration with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, announced the start of a major project to repair and redecorate the covered mall linking Southport Station with Chapel Street.
The works began on Monday, with the first phase due for completion by 10th July 2026, ensuring that it is ready ahead of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, when thousands of visitors from around the world are expected to travel through the town.
Christine McGregor, Chair of the Southport Station Improvement Project, said:
“Not only am I delighted but also relieved, having almost given up hope of any visible improvement to the Station Arcade Passageway as 2025 was the tenth year of the Southport Station Improvement Project from its launch in 2015, fully supported by then MP John Pugh, and with the assistance of Sefton Council allowing meetings to take place in one or other of the rooms in Southport Town Hall.
“These twice / three times yearly meetings of which I took on the role of Chair, were regularly attended by Sefton, key industry stakeholders including Merseytravel – Merseyrail, Network Rail and at an earlier point, British Transport Police, but also the agents of the respective private owners of the Southport Station Retail Complex. Southport BID has also been supportive.
“Four key objectives were formulated:
i) Retail Arcade up-grade
ii) Rail side shelter on Platform 5-6
iii) Renovation of the long Victorian Wall adjacent to Platform 1
vi) Regular ground maintenance of the rail side station approach.
“It should be noted that the current private owners of the Retail Arcade, since purchasing the Retail Complex from the previous owner in 2017, have undertaken several complex remedial strategies to stem the serious water ingress between the Service Deck and ceiling of the Arcade in addition to other remedial and maintenance works in prospect of introducing visible improvements to the Arcade environment.
“This year, Southport Station Arcade Passageway will finally reflect a clean, modern, bright image that the town can be proud of particularly when Southport welcomes the thousands of visitors that will be passing through the Station to attend the Golf Open Championship in July and of course the famous independent Southport Flower Show along with the other popular annual summer events.”
The work at Southport Train Station will focus on improving the overall appearance, functionality and experience of the mall, which forms a key pedestrian gateway between Southport’s transport hub and its principal shopping street.
The investment reflects a shared commitment to supporting Southport’s town centre economy and improving connectivity for residents, commuters and visitors alike.
During the construction period, some temporary disruption is expected, however:
- Pedestrian access through Station Approach will remain open at all times
- All shops and businesses in and around the site will continue to be accessible
- Works will be carefully planned and phased to minimise inconvenience
Signage and information will be in place throughout the works to help guide customers and visitors safely through the area.
A spokesperson for the project said:
“Station Approach is a vital link between Southport Station and Chapel Street, and this project represents an important investment in the town’s future.
“By working closely with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, we are delivering investment that will benefit local businesses while ensuring Southport is ready to welcome visitors ahead of the Open Championship this summer.”
The first phase of works is scheduled to conclude in July, with further updates to be shared as the project progresses.
Members of the public and local businesses are thanked in advance for their patience and cooperation while these improvements are carried out.
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