The station is aligned north–south. When facing north, five tunnel portals can be seen north of the platforms.
To the west lies a cluster of three very short tunnels, running under a road. These tunnels were to give greater throughput, and are all on the same line. The westernmost tunnel is used for shunting. The next tunnel is the main Merseyrail Northern Line tunnel. The third tunnel is disused, but was in use until 1968 as the fast line for expresses to Yorkshire and Manchester.
To the east is a cluster of two tunnels. The easternmost tunnel was an abandoned project. The adjacent tunnel runs in tunnels and cuttings to the disused Walton on the Hill station, and was a part of the North Liverpool Extension Line. This section of line was used from 1879 to 1979; however, trains running on it never called at Kirkdale station.
Freight lines
Two freight lines passed through or under the station.
The busy Canada Dock Branch freight-only line serving Liverpool Docks passes under the station, roughly north-east to south-west, via a tunnel.
The North Liverpool Extension Line, also referred to as the eastern section of the Outer Loop, emerged from the north out of a tunnel next to the station, running parallel to the west platform. This section of line was used from 1879 to 1979.
Facilities
The station (as is usual for most on Merseyrail) is fully staffed throughout the hours of service all week. The platforms are fully accessible and step-free (as noted above) and there are shelters, customer information screens and timetable poster boards on each platform. Train running information is also offered by automated announcements. The station has two car-parking spaces for disabled users and cycle racks for 10 cycles.[1]
Services
Trains operate every 15 minutes, Monday - Saturday during the daytime to either Kirkby or Ormskirk to the north, and every 5 or 10 minutes to Liverpool Central to the south. During the evenings after 20:00 and all day Sundays, services are every 30 minutes to Kirkby and Ormskirk, and every 15 minutes to Liverpool.[2]
Gallery
The railway tunnel to Rice Lane, viewed from the end of the platform
The A5090 road bridge, at the end of the platform
A Merseyrail Class 508 arrives with a service to Liverpool.