• Major funding injection will be used to expand rail network and introduce new Rapid Transit links to airport, football stadiums and beyond 
• Accelerating the journey towards a London-style integrated transport system and net-zero by 2035 
• New transport links will boost economic growth and help revitalise and regenerate towns across the region 

St Helens is set to benefit from a historic £1.6bn investment in the Liverpool City Region to help deliver the next stage of its transport revolution – backing major rail upgrades, a new rapid transit network, and infrastructure to unlock one of the largest regeneration schemes in the country. 

The funding, confirmed by the Chancellor ahead of this year’s Spending Review, represents the single largest investment in the region’s transport infrastructure to date. Projects funded will help drive economic growth, link communities and create opportunity across the whole region. 

Secured through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), this funding will accelerate Mayor Steve Rotheram’s plans for a London-style public transport system – clean, integrated and accessible to all – while laying the groundwork for thousands of new homes, jobs and training opportunities. 

At the heart of the plans is the largest-ever investment in local rail station infrastructure. Work will now progress on three new stations – Carr Mill in St Helens, Woodchurch in Wirral, and Daresbury in Halton – alongside committed schemes at Liverpool Baltic and a redeveloped Runcorn station.  

These projects are central to the city region’s ambition to expand the reach of the Merseyrail network, including new connections to Sci-Tech Daresbury – where a direct rail link is expected to create 8,000 new jobs – and, in the future, Wrexham, deepening economic ties with North Wales. 

The region will also move forward with a commitment to deliver a new Rapid Transit network, offering fast, modern, and reliable services between Liverpool city centre, John Lennon Airport, and key locations in North Liverpool. Inspired by successful models like the Belfast Glider, this system will support wider regeneration, linking existing communities with opportunity and improving access to major destinations including Bramley Moore Dock. 

This is part of a broader programme to transform the region’s bus network, supporting the introduction of a zero-emission fleet, new depot infrastructure, and the rollout of franchising – returning buses to public control for the first time in nearly 40 years. 

Alongside these flagship schemes, the funding will help unlock a new city-scale regeneration project in North Liverpool and South Sefton, centred on the new Everton stadium. The scheme is expected to deliver more than 10,000 new homes, generate thousands of jobs, and transform public space through investment in active travel, upgraded highways and enhanced connectivity. 

Anthony Burns, Leader of St Helens Borough Council said:

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “This is a really big win for our area and for the 1.6m people who call it home. It means new train stations where they’re needed most, better buses that actually turn up, and a new rapid transit system to help people get where they need to be – whether that’s for work, education, socialising or care. For too long, too many of our communities have had to put up with second-rate services. This is our chance to put that right. With buses coming back under public control for the first time in a generation, this funding gives us the tools to shape a transport system that puts people first. And while the headline projects are important, the real value lies in the flexibility it gives us to keep investing in the infrastructure our communities need now and into the future.”

Cllr Kate Groucutt, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Business and Inclusive Growth  added “Transport connectivity is crucial for businesses, residents and visitors and for the last 15 years the North has had to put up with a lack of investment and a failing transport system.

This announcement from the Labour Government, along with the funding we’re already receiving from the Liverpool City Region for the St Helens Town Centre transport interchange, will add a further boost to our plans for growth and jobs.

It shows the difference that Labour, working together local and nationally, will make to areas like St Helens.”

Celebrating the news, St Helens North MP David Baines said

“I’m delighted that the Chancellor Rachel Reeves has today committed a massive £1.6 billion investment in our local transport system, and we can confirm that St Helens North will be one of the FIRST areas in the Liverpool City Region to benefit from a brand-new fleet of buses.

I met her yesterday to hear the news, and this is exactly the kind of thing I’ve been fighting for since being leader of the council and since last July as our MP – reliable, affordable public transport that puts people before profit.

For too long, people in St Helens North have been let down by expensive, unreliable bus services. We’ve been forced to play catchup while London races ahead, competing for pots of money to fund transport and infrastructure.

This investment is part of a massive £15.6bn funding package for transport projects across the North. This marks a turning point — a new economic model that backs every part of our country.

This funding will deliver a new fleet of buses for the region’s franchised bus network, which we will see roll out in St Helens just next year. We will be making public transport quicker, cheaper and more reliable for people in our area. And alongside our new transport interchange also set to open in St Helens town centre in 2026, it will be a better experience for everybody.

Whether you’re travelling to work, getting to GP appointments, or just visiting friends and family, this investment will make a real difference to people in our community.”

This is the difference a Labour government makes.

Transport Secretary, Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, said “Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change.  For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of Government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off.” 

Beyond the three flagship projects, the funding will also back a number of schemes aimed at revitalising and reconnecting towns across the city region – including Bootle, Huyton, Kirkby and Southport – as part of a broader strategy to encourage a shift from car use to public transport and achieve the region’s Net Zero 2035 target. 

Investment will also support the Hind Street corridor in Birkenhead, unlocking the regeneration of Wirral Waters, the Left Bank and Birkenhead town centre. The project will deliver infrastructure to support up to 1,500 homes on nearly 11 hectares of brownfield land, catalysing growth on the eastern side of the Mersey. 

This significant new investment builds upon the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s proven track record of successful transport delivery – from the roll-out of the region’s new train fleet, which is the most accessible in the UK, to the opening of two new rail stations including Headbolt Lane in Kirkby, which has connected more than 20,000 residents to the region’s network rail network for the first time.