This has got me wondering especially with High Speed 2 starting to enter many discussions and the prospect of a branch line to both Manchester & Liverpool.
But just how can Liverpool accommodate any expansion of services at any level? And at the woefully cramped Lime St Station? Can you seriously imagine High Speed 2 using Lime St with all existing services aswell?
The Line to Wigan/Manchester is hampered by capacity constraints & slowdown for stopping services, it used to be quadruple to Huyton. The only real benefit being the 4-track main line between Edge Hill & Allerton, this being the primary main line but is intensively used by TPX & London/Crewe trains.
I had thought of the idea of a high speed terminal on the site of the long-closed Liverpool Central High Level, but this also bears the same cramped close-quarters like Lime St - probably worse, then you've to consider conflicting with Merseyrail Electrics on the Garston line.
Its just a great pity Liverpool Exchange was closed & redeveloped with indecent haste, spacious & accommodating for long expresses, it isn't hard to imagine Eurostar being comfortably fitted in there - and it had plenty of track capacity, it was also near Liverpool's business & commercial districts, and probably the most convenient for Pier Head.
Its not easy to see to see a modern day answer for Liverpool, but its clear Manchester benefits from maintaining 2 main line stations, and you could say the same for Birmingham.
Info: Liverpool Central High Level: Info: Liverpool Central High Level:
http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/s...hl/index.shtml
Info: Liverpool Exchange:
http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/s...ge/index.shtml