Plans for rail station expansion

Rush hour travellers have problems getting on to the station's platform

Rail bosses have announced plans for expansion work to be carried out at Liverpool's Central station to allow more people to travel by underground.

The redevelopment will increase the capacity at the Ranelagh Street's station, giving better train access.

The proposal by Merseytravel, part of the local transport plan, is due to be put before Liverpool City Council.

The aim is to ease pressure on the station which copes with about 40,000 people every day.

'Expand capacity'

Only last week the escalator at the station had to be stopped because of the sheer number of people on one of the platforms.

Neil Scales from Merseytravel said: "We are victims of our own success at Central station.

"We have crowd control issues there but our colleagues at Mersey Rail electrics usually sort that out.

"And at the moment it is the Christmas rush, which makes in very busy.

"So we are going to expand capacity at the station."

The plans are expected to be decided next month.