Everton Chief Executive Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale has been named as the chair of a commission which aims to deliver a new train station for Liverpool city centre.
The new station will enable the city region’s connection to high-speed rail project HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Professor Barrett-Baxendale says being appointed to the position is a “tremendous honour” and explained the station proposals represent “golden opportunity to create a modern transport hub fit for the city region’s future”.
Earlier this year, Transport for the North’s Strategic Transport Plan included plans to ensure that Liverpool City Region will benefit from a full connection to both Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2.
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, says Professor Barrett-Baxendale will bring “first-class leadership” to the Station Commission.
“Connecting the Liverpool City Region to HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail will both cut journey times and increase capacity, boosting our economy by £15 billion,” he added.
“In order to make that connection happen we will need a new station in Liverpool city centre, capable of accommodating HS2 trains, NPR trains and linking in with our local transport infrastructure. Lime Street will simply not be able to cope.
“Building a new station is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. But, of course, bringing this kind of infrastructure project to fruition will be enormously challenging, and that is why I have created this Commission, to take forward the work required.
“Such a challenge requires first class leadership and so I am particularly pleased that Denise Barrett-Baxendale has agreed to serve as its chair. Denise brings a wealth of experience and intellectual rigour and I could not have more confidence in her ability to make this happen.”
A full connection to both Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 will reduce journey times between Liverpool and Manchester to around 23 minutes, Liverpool and London to around 89 minutes and will increase both passenger and freight capacity on our rail networks.
This will deliver an economic boost of £15 billion GVA to the Liverpool City Region, with 24,000 new jobs, 11,000 new homes and 3.6 million additional visitors a year.
Professor Barrett-Baxendale added: “I am tremendously honoured to have been asked to chair this Commission.
“I have no doubt that it will be challenging but with that challenge comes a golden opportunity to create a modern transport hub fit for the city region’s future.”
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