Merseyrail passengers are set to be hit by disruption once again as strike action across rail networks continues.
The travel company said services will run every 45-minutes on Tuesday, January 3, Wednesday, January 4, Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7 due to strike action by RMT members of Network Rail. It means the Liverpool City Region rail network will be impacted by the walk-out.
Network Rail signalling and maintenance employees will be taking industrial action from 2am on Tuesday, January 3 to 1.59am on Thursday, January 5, and 2am on Friday, January 6 to 1.59am on Sunday, January 8.
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Merseyrail staff are not part of the industrial action, however as it involves Network Rail staff who operate the signalling systems and provide maintenance support this is why timetables will be impacted.
A 45-minute service, calling at all stations on selected lines, will run between 7.30am and 6.30pm on January 3,4,6 and 7 to help passengers make essential journeys. There will be no rail replacement buses in operation and those needing to travel outside the hours of service are advised to make alternative travel arrangements.
However, on Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7, rail replacement buses will run on the Kirkby line between Kirkby and Moorfields, due to planned engineering works relating to the opening of Headbolt Lane station in 2023.
A summary of services that will run on Tuesday, January 3; Wednesday, January 4; Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7 as follows:
Chester and Ellesmere Port lines: No trains will operate between Chester and Rock Ferry or Ellesmere Port and Rock Ferry. Trains will run every 45 minutes between Rock Ferry and Liverpool Central, calling at all stations.
New Brighton line: Trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations.
West Kirby line: Trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations.
Southport line: Trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations.
Hunts Cross line: No trains will operate between Liverpool Central and Hunts Cross.
Ormskirk line: On Tuesday, January 3 and Wednesday, January 4, trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations. However, on Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7, two trains will run per 45 minutes, calling at all stations to support the increased number of passengers expected to travel on the line as a result of the Kirkby line being closed for engineering work.
Kirkby line: On Tuesday, January 3 and Wednesday, January 4 trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations. On Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7 no service will run on the Kirkby line due to planned engineering work as part of the construction of the new Headbolt Lane station.
Rail replacement buses will run every 30 minutes between 7am and 6.30pm to Moorfields station. Timetables will be available on the Merseyrail website a few days in advance.
On Thursday, January 5, train services will begin at approximately 7am in the morning. A limited rail replacement bus service will be in operation from the busiest stations prior to 7am. Passengers are advised to visit the Merseyrail website for full details or speak to a member of station staff.
Rail replacement buses timetables:
West Kirby 6am calling at Birkenhead North 6.20am and Moorfields 6.50am.
Southport 5.45am calling at Formby 6.15am, Waterloo 3.35am and Moorfields 6.55am.
Formby 6am calling at Waterloo 6.20am and Moorfields 6.40am.
Ormskirk 6am calling at Maghull 6.20am and Moorfields 6.50am.
Kirkby 6am calling at Fazakerley 6.10am and Moorfields 6.40am.
New Brighton 5.45am calling at Birkenhead North 6.05am and Moorfields 6.35am.
Moorfields 6.35am calling at Hamilton Square and Birkenhead North 7am.
Chester & Ellesmere Port 6am calling at Bache 6.10am and Moorfields 6.50am.
Hooton 6am calling at Rock Ferry 6.30am ad Moorfields 7am.
On Sunday, January 8 a normal timetable will operate except from Hunts Cross and Kirkby lines due to planned engineering works. Passengers planning to travel on the Kirkby Line from Monday, January 9 onwards will also notice some changes to timetables, as preparations continue for the new fleet of trains.
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