Small station that was easy to navigate with my wheels
4
4
Date of visit: November 2025
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: disabled toilet, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Good
This was a small open-air station close to Birkenhead Park. It is classed as an ‘A’ train station on the metro access map meaning there is step-free access to both platforms. There was a very small ticket hall with a ticket desk and spots to swipe a metro card. There were then stairs and a lift down to the two platforms. The platform in the centre with the trains in either direction stopping on either side of the platform. Once on the platform, there are digital displays overhead to show which trains are coming and how long they will be. There is some seating up and down the platform and some of the seats have armrests and there was also a covered waiting area. There were tactile markers at the edge of the platform as well as a yellow line about a foot from the edge, followed by a white line on the very edge. The metro trains themselves were one of the best parts about the metro. They stopped level with the platforms and had a sliding-step to bridge the gap between the train at the platform. The accessible boarding point was really clearly signposted and the wheelchair space had been well thought out, in my opinion. This is mainly because I think the design accommodates people with lots of access needs. It seemed that as well as the driver there was always an additional member of staff on the train who would be checking to make sure people had got on safely before closing the doors. This made me feel safer knowing that someone was there if I ended up needing assistance.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
The metro system in Liverpool has an accessibility map where each stop has been given a letter, A, B, or C, which provides information about whether or not there is step-free access to the train platforms. A means there is step-free access to all the platforms B means there is step-free access but it might only be in one direction C means there is no step-free access at the station This station is an ‘A’ station. The station entrance had automatic folding doors which led into a small entrance space. It had a ticket counter which had a small lowered counter but was mainly at standing height. There were also pads to swipe a metro card if you had one. This station didn’t have any ticket barriers. There was a flight of stairs down to the platforms which had a break in the middle and grab rails on both sides. A lift was located to the right of the stairs and was clearly signposted. It was quite a small lift but had enough space for my wheelchair and power attachment. There were grab rails on either side of the lift and the buttons were tactile and had Braille too. There was a hearing loop symbol inside the lift and it also had two alarm buttons, one was near the floor in case someone fell over. There were two sets of doors in the lift, they were opposite each other so it meant that you were always facing the set of doors that were going to open. The new metro trains are level with the platform and also have a sliding-step which bridges the gap between the train and the platform. Like I mentioned above, there is a large wheelchair symbol next to one set of the train doors, which shows where the most accessible boarding spot is. There was also a sign on the platform itself so I was able to position myself in the best spot before the train had arrived. This part of the train has a large wheelchair space with a plug socket, two USB cable ports, an emergency call point with Braille, a small shelf with two circular dips for cups, and two fold-up seats at one end of the space. The way this space has been designed means it works well for someone in a wheelchair, like me, but the fold-up seats at the end of the space means it is also a great option for someone with a walker, someone who cannot bend their legs much, someone with an assistance dog, and lots of other scenarios that often get overlooked. The station is open-air and it was quite cold when I went. They have some seating on the platform but they also had a covered waiting area with seating inside it too. There were digital displays overhead on both platforms with expected trains and their arrival times. A lift travelled from the metro platform up into the main railway station.
Accessible facilities: Lift to all areas, Step-free entrance, Seating at regular intervals, Step-free access to most areas
Parking & Transport
Average
I travelled to this place by train
The metro trains available from this station are those towards West Kirby, New Brighton, and Liverpool Central. There are signs outside the station highlighting some of the closest bus stops. They are called Birkenhead Park Station so they are identified as Stop A-E. The closest stop is Stop A which is on the same side of the road as the station and is 35 metres from the station entrance. At Stop A you can get the buses 410 and 658. Stop B is 80 metres from the station entrance and requires crossing the road. There is a pelican crossing just outside the station to cross the road. From Stop B you can get the 410 and 658 in the opposite direction to Stop A. Stop C is 170 metres away and doesn’t require crossing the road. The buses 216, 407, 418, 437, 658, and 698 stop here. Stop D and E are on the other side of the road to Stop C and are about 200 metres from the station. There is another pedestrian crossing by these bus stops. At Stop D you can get the 217, 407, 418, 658, and 698 in the opposite direction to Stop C. From Stop E you can get the 437, and 695 buses. There is no parking at this station and no designated drop-off point. The roads around it are mainly residential so there may be places to stop nearby depending on parking restrictions.
Accessible Toilets
I didn’t see any toilets at this station.
Staff
I didn’t interact with the staff, but it was nice to see that there was someone on every train. It made me feel reassured that there was someone monitoring everyone boarding and disembarking, just in case I had any issues and needed assistance.
