Moorfields station escalators are back in service after months of delays due to leak repairs and part replacements.
Last week, people hoped the entrance would open, but last-minute snags stopped it. Passengers could use both sides of the station on Thursday; this was the first time since 2023. Workers installed a new shutter system that sits above the bottom of the steps, and they fixed leaks to stop damage, too.
Repairs were supposed to take one month, but it took much longer because of delays. Liverpool Council is in charge of escalator maintenance and manages near the station entrance itself.
Several groups manage the station, including the council, Network Rail, Merseytravel, and the Liverpool City Region.
KONE Ltd got the contract in September 2023 for £37,202. Components failed and stopped one escalator, and the canopy above the escalators leaked. Fixing the leak was the first step.
Inspectors found two major parts needed replacing, which was more than just a routine repair. New parts needed ordering, with a wait time of about 12 weeks. People hoped the job would finish by last autumn.
The council said the escalators needed major work, including cleaning, servicing, and overhauling for health and safety reasons. The area stayed fenced off, and people had to use other routes.
Workers returned, and the council told the ECHO completion was set for February 21. Escalator repairs are not the only station issue. Network Rail will invest £12.5m to replace 14 escalators across the Merseyrail network soon.
The project will take about three years. Escalators serving the Wirral line may be ready next May. Some call the unreliable station access “Mount Moorfields” and are frustrated with the access issues. Network Rail flew parts in from the US, which sped up the repairs, but the planned work and failures overwhelmed the company.