Merseyrail Northern Line - Electrification

Electrification

The Northern Line is electrified using a 750V DC third rail.

• The section of line from the old Liverpool Exchange Station to Southport on to Crossens and Meols Cop, was the first section to be electrified in 1904.
• The branch to Aintree, on the current Northern Line Ormskirk branch, followed in 1906, being extended to Ormskirk in 1913.
• The Kirkby branch and the line south of Liverpool as far as Garston were electrified to coincide with the construction of the Link Tunnel creating Merseyrail in 1978.
• Electrification was cut back to Southport in the north in 1964 to passengers, though the electric rails remained down as far as Meols Cop until 1970 to serve the large depot there.
• The section from Garston to Hunts Cross was electrified in 1983, making Hunts Cross the southern terminal station.