New Mobile Site
We have just launched a new mobile version of this site - m.trainspots. This page will use your smart device's GPS to loctate you and guide you to locations that are close to your present location.
Location notes
First station after Liverpool on the Wirral Line, Hamilton Square is located on Hamilton Street, in Birkenhead. The square is nearby. As part of the 1978 works for Merseyrail, a new tunnel and platform 3 were constructed. This serves trains to New Brighton and West Kirby, and allows those trains to go under the Hooton/Chester/Ellesm,ere Port line and thus avoid crossing over and causing conflicting movements.
There used to be a second railway station here, Birkenhead Woodside, which closed in 1967. A bus station today sits on the site, which can still be clearly identified. With Hamilton Square station being nearby, little inconvienence was caused by Woodside's closure. The chester service was cut back to Hooton, though since 1994 eletrification, through running to Liverpool has recommenced.
To learn more about Birkenhead Woodisde, please visit the link on the disused station website.
There used to be a second railway station here, Birkenhead Woodside, which closed in 1967. A bus station today sits on the site, which can still be clearly identified. With Hamilton Square station being nearby, little inconvienence was caused by Woodside's closure. The chester service was cut back to Hooton, though since 1994 eletrification, through running to Liverpool has recommenced.
To learn more about Birkenhead Woodisde, please visit the link on the disused station website.
Railway type and traffic
Class 507's and 508's of the Merseyrail are the only trains you will see here. The station layout is as follows as well. Platform one is for all trains to Liverpool. Platform 2 is for Chester and Ellesmere Port trains. Platform three (dating from 1978) for New Brighton and West Kirby.
Environment
This is a bit away from Birkenhead Town Centre, but nevertheless, is still a popular area with the ferry terminal nearby. As in all areas, please keep your wits about you at all times. The station is staffed for all trains.
Road directions
Follow signs for Birkenhead, and then look for brown signs reading 'Mersey Ferries Woodside Terminal' and/or 'Heritage Tramway'.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Hamilton Square map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Hamilton Square map co-ordinates
Parking
There are two chargable car parks nearby. You could also leave your car in Birkenhead town centre, and travel from Conway Park to Hamilton Square by train.
Public transport
Merseyrail trains from Liverpool run through the station every 5 minutes. The frequencies from the various branches during the day are West Kirby and New Brighton, every 15 minutes (30 minutes evening and Sunday), and Chester and ellesmere Port, 30 minutes (every day).
In addition, Woodside bus station (built on the site of the old Woodside train station, is just down the hill, although please note, the climb up to the rail station is steep.
For train times visit:
Merseyrail and bus services are provided in the main by Arriva.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
In addition, Woodside bus station (built on the site of the old Woodside train station, is just down the hill, although please note, the climb up to the rail station is steep.
For train times visit:
Merseyrail and bus services are provided in the main by Arriva.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
The station has toilets at platform level, near the tunnels. There is a cafe and toilets in the Mersey Ferries terminal, and there is a pub nearby. Birkenhead Town centre is a short bus or rail trip away, and Liverpool city centre is only 5-7 minutes by train.
Accommodation
For tourist information, visit the Visit Liverpool website.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Hamilton Square
Streetmap links
Hamilton Square general view map
Hamilton Square close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Hamilton Square
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Hamilton Square
Googly map
Hamilton Square general view map
Hamilton Square close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Hamilton Square
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Hamilton Square is underground, and this station has lift access from the platforms to the surface. Tripods are banned, as is flash photography. The rumbling in a tunnel will be a warning of a train coming.
General views - All photographs © Robert Clarke unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west
A train ready to leave platform 2.
Fig 2 - Looking East
The train ready to enter the mersey railway tunnel.
Fig 3 - Looking east
From the 1977 built platform 3.
Location Video
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
