Train stations in Liverpool

Liverpool Lime Street is the main line station, about 10 to 15 minutes' walk from Liverpool ONE, and the one for trains from London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and North Wales. Liverpool Central is the Merseyrail station for the Wirral, Chester and Southport.

Which Liverpool station to use

Lime Street is where Avanti West Coast, Northern, TransPennine Express, East Midlands Railway, London Northwestern Railway and Transport for Wales arrive, and every platform is step-free.

Wirral line trains loop under the centre, calling at Lime Street Low Level (lift to the main concourse), Liverpool Central, James Street and Moorfields. Northern line trains to Southport, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane use Liverpool Central and Moorfields. James Street is the stop for the waterfront.

From Lime Street into the centre

Liverpool ONE is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the main entrance, and the Royal Albert Dock 15 to 20 minutes via Church Street.

For Pier Head and the Mersey Ferries, take any Wirral line train from Lime Street Low Level to James Street (4 minutes, via Liverpool Central), then walk about 5 minutes to the Pier Head ferry terminal.

Trains from Lime Street

Times are as of October 2026, valid until 12 December 2026.

• London Euston: Avanti West Coast runs a direct train about every hour, taking about 2 hours 15 to 2 hours 20 minutes.
• Birmingham New Street: London Northwestern Railway runs direct via Crewe, the fastest in about 1 hour 35 minutes.
• Manchester: TransPennine Express runs twice an hour to Manchester Victoria in about 35 minutes. For Manchester Piccadilly, TransPennine Express and East Midlands Railway trains via Warrington Central take about 50 to 55 minutes.
• Leeds, York and Newcastle: TransPennine Express runs twice an hour to Leeds in about 1 hour 30 minutes, and hourly on to York (about 1 hour 52 minutes) and Newcastle (about 3 hours).
• Sheffield: East Midlands Railway runs direct in about 1 hour 45 minutes, and TransPennine Express hourly via Manchester Piccadilly in about 1 hour 50 minutes.
• Nottingham: East Midlands Railway's Norwich trains run direct via Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield in about 2 hours 40 minutes.
• Chester and North Wales: Merseyrail's Wirral line runs to Chester from Lime Street Low Level about every 15 minutes in the daytime from Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes in the evening and on Sundays, taking about 45 minutes. Transport for Wales runs an hourly train from the main line platforms via Liverpool South Parkway and Runcorn in about 45 minutes, continuing to Rhyl and Llandudno.

Works and holidays to plan around

• Until Friday 6 November 2026, Merseyrail's Northern line is closed between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central. Monday to Saturday, buses run from Hunts Cross to Moorfields, and Southport, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane trains run to Liverpool Central. On Sundays, those trains stop at Sandhills, with buses to Hunts Cross, so no Northern line trains reach Moorfields or Liverpool Central. Normal service returns on Saturday 7 November.
• On Sunday 1 November, Wirral line trains from Chester and Ellesmere Port stop at Rock Ferry, and trains from New Brighton and West Kirby stop at Birkenhead North. Buses run on to Moorfields. That day no Merseyrail trains run in central Liverpool.
• On Sunday 8 November, track work at Mossley Hill closes all lines into Lime Street. Avanti trains divert via Earlestown, East Midlands Railway runs no trains between Lime Street and Sheffield, and London Northwestern Railway trains start and end at Liverpool South Parkway. Northern and TransPennine Express trains also stop short, with buses to Lime Street. Transport for Wales trains to Chester use the same closed line, and Merseyrail's Wirral line from Lime Street Low Level is the way to Chester that day.
• No National Rail trains run on Christmas Day, and most operators run none on Saturday 26 December. Birmingham New Street has major works from 24 to 28 December 2026, disrupting Liverpool to Birmingham journeys.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Take a train to Liverpool South Parkway, then bus 80A (17 minutes) or 86A (15 minutes). From the city centre, Arriva's 500 runs from Liverpool ONE Bus Station in about 40 minutes (£2 adult single), and the 86A takes about 56 minutes, every 7 to 8 minutes in the daytime.

Ferries

The Isle of Man Steam Packet sails from the Isle of Man Ferry Terminal at 1 Triskelion Way. A council bus for foot passengers stops at Lime Street Station and Liverpool ONE Bus Station from 2 hours before each sailing and costs £2, paid on boarding. Stena Line's Belfast ferry leaves from the 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead.

Tickets

Advance tickets are cheapest for longer journeys: they go on sale up to 12 weeks ahead and are valid only on the booked train. Off-Peak tickets cost less than Anytime fares, and their validity differs by route. A railcard takes up to a third off.

Buy before you board, at the Lime Street ticket office or machines, or online. Merseyrail's Day Saver covers a day of off-peak travel from £4.80 for one area and £6.40 for all areas.

Rail passes and reservations

As of October 2026, Interrail covers all these operators and Merseyrail. None needs a reservation, including Avanti West Coast to London. For a guaranteed seat, reserve one free at a station ticket office; ACP Rail charges €6 online.