Tram-train options for Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Ever been frustrated by the comfort of the bus service from Liverpool South Parkway to Liverpool John Lennon Airport? Then could this be the future?
All videos and photographs by David Inman unless stated.

[@uingaeoc3905]

Actually, the cheaper route, avoiding ALL commercial and residential areas without street running, to the Airport from SLP is to branch off from the WCML at just east of the Halewood Jag-Land Rover IE , follow the route Higher Road to Speke Blvd, cross /bridge it and then follow the Blvd route on its South side, cross to follow a route east of Aldersfield Drive then cross/ bridge Hale Road and follow that route into the Airport estate. That can be done on battery power of the 755s . No need for new rolling stock and crosses open fields and just three roads.

[@merseydave1]

Vert Good Point

[@robertjackson3101]

I have recently read that Luton aiport is to be connected to Luton Parkway rail station soon. When will the powers that be recognise that this would be a great opportunity not only for the airport but Speke in general. We appear to be very slow in committing to these ideas i.e if Luton can, why not Liverpool ?

[@DIEMLtdTV]

Anything to avoid that awful bus to South Parkway! In fairness Luton Airport Parkway is pretty much next to the end of Luton Airport runway, so most of the route is parallel with the airport perimeter.

[@robertjackson3101]

Correct....but they still got it done!

[@mikegee8074]

Liverpool should finally get it's act together and build a citywide tram system. They have miles of beautiful central reservations. If Manchester , Leeds , Nottingham, Birmingham and Glasgow, to name most have done it so can they. The reason they have a history of a lazy council that never pushes this hard enough with the government.

[@DIEMLtdTV]

A better and quicker bus route to and from South Parkway that doesn’t stop at all the local shops and has a fleet that accommodates people with luggage would be a start.

[@uingaeoc3905]

The central reservations were created for the old tram system!

[@stevebramhill3811]

Neither Leeds or Glasgow haver tram systems and of all the cities mentioned only Glasgow (like Liverpool) has an underground railway.

[@TommyBahama84]

Liverpool has a comprehensive rail network that should be expanded and totally operated by Merseyrail (or Metro, as it may soon become)

[@robertjackson3101]

By far the best option I think would be the Green route with also another station at Mersey retail park or elsewhere which could act as a station for Speke residents. It was a good video to open a discussion for a link to the airport which is long overdue to enhance the status of Liverpool, as many other cities have rail links to their city centres plus it would also provide transportation to the expanding Merseyrail network.

[@DIEMLtdTV]

Yes, there is so much potential and not just for airport passengers and workers.

[@anthonymcdonnell6615]

a link could be put into widnes just put the link above ashley way and a have a station at the site of widnes central

[@robertjackson3101]

Solutions can be found...they just need to be implemented with urgency....China would have had it completed within 6 months...why does it take so long to get new infrastructure projects finished e.g HS2?

[@robertjackson3101]

Thanks for all the Bus surveys to try and improve the bus serives, which they have tried for goodness how many years, but "the powers" still drag their feet about a direct tram / train to the airport.

[@DIEMLtdTV]

It is very odd you advertise an airport service but it stops at every street corner.

[@robertjackson3101]

Yes indeed, but in order to get more recognition, a better connection i.e tram / rail IS required to encourage development....the sooner the better, no more treading water please!!

[@DIEMLtdTV]

@@robertjackson3101 Merseytravel have got the hydrogen bus don't forget. Nobody has any idea where the hydrogen comes from though! I'm not a fan of South Parkway and it's turned out to be a white elephant. If I've got to change from the Northern Line to the main line I'll do it at Central/Lime Street as if trains are cancelled I have the option of Avanti who don't (yet) stop at South Parkway.

[@Sim2500]

I don't think a Tram system is good, we have a extensive rail network and partly built tunnels. we should expand these with the new 777 trains. The Metro Mayor is about to receive new powers from Department of Transport, in which the Metro Mayor and the Combined Authority has full jurisdiction over the Mersey Rail network, the land, its stations and tracks. Could we not connect the WCML to the airport on the east side curving into airport via Hale. Two stations could be built one for the airport/Speke and the other for hale and then onto south parkway, West Allerton, Mosley Hill, Edge lane then Lime street. This can be the airport line and bringing more areas into the Mersey rail Network

[@DIEMLtdTV]

I'm not a huge fan of trams due to their restricted capacity and slow city centre speeds. A spur of the WCML, especially from the slow lines, east of JLR Halewood makes sense. Thanks for pointing out.

[@robertjackson3101]

Connectivity is critical to new investment. Both domestic and overseas investors are more reluctant to invest into a region with poor transport infrastructure including a link to Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

[@DIEMLtdTV]

I agree, especially with the amount of logistics investment across Europe that I'm seeing.

[@robertjackson3101]

17 Billion swashing around...so how about linking the new proposed route (Lpl / Mcr) via Liverpool Airport and Speke?

[@DIEMLtdTV]

Would be better off electrifying the Cheshire Lines route.

[@rockerjim8045]

an excellent idea. we only need a positive Govt

[@robertjackson3101]

We are a major UK city region and our public transport network deserves and should reflect that importance. We should be connecting these area's with more connectivity to some places that only have bus access. They need tram / rail services in order to get around more quickly and easily. Our transport hubs i.e. railway stations and Liverpool Airport require a more modern way of transporting people from A to B around the region from the hubs in a more 'continental' style all inclusive way. Having just returned from Austria, I must say that there integrated system i.e. rail, tram was superb.

[@DIEMLtdTV]

It’s all smoke and mirrors and the agonising length of time introducing the 777’s shows Merseytravel are playing at it…. But they’ve got a hydrogen 🚌 bus that can’t travel very far as it can only be “filled up” in St Helens.

[@robertjackson3101]

@@DIEMLtdTV Agonising yes and pitiful given what other countries are now doing so much more quickly and effeciently than us to or for their main cities, which helps with the enviroment reduceing emissions.

[@railfangig6699]

To be honest Liverpool airport is in the wrong place, the advantage of Manchester airport is that it’s miles from the city and is handy for motorways and has both a connection to the national rail and tram network. I always dread when a suggestion is banded about clogging the national rail network with trams , when the extra capacity should be used to increase services especially freight .

[@DIEMLtdTV]

It's not in the best place. I took a 15 minute flight from Douglas the other year then a 20 minute bus service to Liverpool South Parkway! The original Speke airport was even closer to the railway ironically. Liverpool airport isn't in the best place either for queasy fliers being so near the estuary. I once landed there on a Ryanair flight utterly terrified as the plane was rolling side to side and instead of aborting the pilot seemed to want just dump the aircraft on the runway.

[@robertjackson3101]

I believe that Inverness now has a railway station for it's airport cost £42M ....nowhere near the throughput of Liverpool John Lennon airport

[@DIEMLtdTV]

Obviously the Scottish Government are awash with money.

[@robertjackson3101]

Must have... no tolls on bridges in Scotland either.

[@davideeyore2002]

The best way if not the most economical would be from LSP on the WCML and head off a link southbound east of Speke and then westbound towards LJLA. Let's say it ran from Lime Street or Central. It could form a direct service to the airport, stopping at LSP. If Manchester can get X, Y and Z extensions to their airport and trams down the years, from central government, why can't we? I like the idea of a tram from LSP direct in to the airport but there's too much in the way. I think you have to go around Speke from the east. I think the same should be argued for an extension of the (motorway) Knowsley Expressway southbound and then westbound towards Speke.

[@davideeyore2002]

Maybe you could do a piece with maps on this idea? Would love that

[@DIEMLtdTV]

Maps being made and thanks for the suggestion.

[@robertjackson3101]

Gliders...no thanks, they are just bigger buses.

[@mikefish8226]

Stop the northern line going to Hunts Cross instead have a tunnel from Liverpool South Parkway to Liverpool Airport. Once that's in service, knock down the entire Speke council estate. Nothing to do with trains, just knock it down.

[@DIEMLtdTV]

Would that include Morrisons? They do a good breakfast there.

[@mikefish8226]

@@DIEMLtdTV Morrisons can stay, maybe the route could be extended after the Airport to Morrisons going through the park built on the ashes of the Speke estate.

[@DIEMLtdTV]

@@mikefish8226 Not a fan of Speke then.

[@mikefish8226]

@@DIEMLtdTV Is anyone?

[@nevillemason6791]

@@mikefish8226 But why single out Speke in particular? There's numerous dreary, soulless vast Council estates around the periphery of Liverpool (Halewood, Netherley, Cantril Farm, Kirby, Norris Green, etc.)

[@deanandconner5194]

There are no trams

[@DIEMLtdTV]

Not in Liverpool anyway

[@Rob_Star]

the buses do the job very good, end off

[@DIEMLtdTV]

I find them a pain if you have luggage and they do go rounds the houses somewhat.

[@tomwhittick2775]

Would be cooler if there was a train station 😏

[@JohnLeeming23]

Why is your statement end of (sic)?

[@free..to..air..]

@@tomwhittick2775 of course it would...its common sense to run a line from S L P...to the airport.....if this was Manchester...it would have been up and running years ago