HAMILTON Square station in Birkenhead has reopened today after a £4m redevelopment by Network Rail.

The new-look station boasts improved platforms and tunnel areas, new flooring, brighter lighting and better passenger information.

The station is cleaner and less cluttered and the additional information uses more sophisticated technology making it easier for passengers to plan journeys.

Network Rail worked with Merseyrail and Merseytravel to plan the upgrade which is the latest in a £40m upgrade of stations in Merseyside.

Chris Littler, area manager for Network Rail, said: "The £4m upgrade at Hamilton Square is part of Network Rail’s wider £40m investment in the railway in Merseyside.

"It has provided passengers with a better, brighter station which will give them an improved beginning or end to their journey and I thank them for their patience while the work was being completed.

"It is a positive addition to the rail network in Merseyside, complementing previous improvements made at Lime Street, Liverpool Central and James Street. We will now look forward to upgrading Moorfields to provide a better station to serve Liverpool’s business district."

Alan Chaplin, Merseyrail’s interim managing director, added: "Hamilton Square is an impressive, historic building, but was badly in need of a makeover.

"Customers will see that it is now sharper and more modern, while some of the original features have been preserved. We’re confident that our passengers will like it as much as we do."

Councillor Phil Davies, chairman of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: "It's been great to see Merseytravel, Network Rail and Merseyrail work in partnership on the refurbishment of Hamilton Square, which continues the significant investment to improve station facilities across the railway network in the Liverpool City Region.

"Merseyrail is central to the delivery of the long-term rail strategy, being led by Merseytravel, which is focussed on improved connections, and more capacity for customers across the city region."

While work on the platform and underground areas of Hamilton Square station has been completed, there is still work to finish in the concourse areas and entrance to the station.

This will take place overnight, without disruption to passengers, and be completed by the summer.

To celebrate the re-opening of the station, a new artwork feature will go on display, depicting some of the old advertisements discovered during the refurbishment at the end of last year.

Some of the original posters date back 70 years.

Among commuters using Hamilton Square station this morning was Michael Jarvis, 27, an office worker from Wallasey.

He told the Globe: "It's been closed for a while, added a bit of time to the journey each day, but it's great that it's reopened.

"Looks very new, it was a much-needed and long overdue refurbishment."

Michelle McNulty, 48, from Wallasey, works at Remploy next door to the station.

She said: "It's wonderful to have it open again, looks nice inside. But its closure added about 40 minutes to my journey each day."

IT consultant Warren Wignall, from Dingle, works in Birkenhead. He said: "It looked good, but workmen are still putting the finishing touches to it, still a bit dusty.

"I thought six months was a bit ambitious to get the work done, but it looks fine and is great that it's reopened."