Merseyrail has made major changes to its timetable for a second day as a yellow weather warning continues.
The travel provider has implemented a cold weather mitigation plan ahead of an expected drop in temperatures from Tuesday, January 17 into Wednesday, January 18. Plans put into place this morning saw the first trains on every line ran without passengers, which led resulted in a "good and reliable service for most commuters" according to Merseyrail.
As temperatures remain below freezing and following another yellow weather warning by the Met Office, Merseyrail will once again cancel trains.
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Tracks on the Merseyrail network will be treated overnight to protect them from ice build-up, while station staff will ensure that platforms and car parks are well gritted, so they are safe for passengers. The plan also means that the first services of the day on each line will run without passengers.
Ice on the third rail can cause trains to become stranded so some first trains of the day will run empty to ensure routes are cleared. Passengers are being advised to check the latest updates before they travel on Wednesday morning.
Zoe Hands, Chief Operating Officer at Merseyrail, said: “We were pleased with how our cold weather mitigation plans worked on Monday night and Tuesday morning. While there were some minor disruption on some lines, the vast majority of our trains ran as scheduled.
“We were able to get thousands of commuters from across the Liverpool city region into work on time, and services operated well throughout Tuesday 17 January. However, we aren’t resting on our laurels and want to ensure that trains on Wednesday 18 January are equally as reliable as they were today.
“Merseyrail and Network Rail staff will be working on the railway overnight to ensure that the start of services are as smooth as possible for our passengers.”
The following changes will be in place from the start of service
Chester and Ellesmere Port lines
The first train of the day from Hooton (05:39 to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled.
The first train of the day from Ellesmere Port (06:17 to Liverpool Central) will only be in passenger service from Hooton onwards.
The first train of the day from Chester (05:55 to Liverpool Central) will only be in passenger service from Hooton onwards.
New Brighton line
The first train of the day (05:53 to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled. The 06:16 Moorfields to New Brighton is cancelled.
West Kirby line
The first train of the day (05:51 to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled. The 06:21 Moorfields to West Kirby is cancelled.
Southport line
The first train of the day from Sandhills (05:59 to Southport) will be cancelled.
The first train of the day from Southport (05:37 to Hunts Cross) will only be in passenger service from Sandhills onwards.
The first service from Sandhills to Hunts Cross is unaffected.
Hunts Cross line
The first train of the day from Hunts Cross (06:01 to Southport) will only be in passenger service from Liverpool Central onwards.
Ormskirk line
First train of the day (05:49 to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled.
Kirkby line
First train of the day (05:43 to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled.
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