Merseyrail has made a major change to the timetable ahead of this week's cold snap.
The travel provider has implemented a cold weather mitigation plan ahead of an expected drop in temperatures from Monday, January 16. Temperatures are expected to fall to -2C overnight and The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning across the North West of England, meaning preventative measures have been activated to deal with the potential for disruptive ice on the tracks.
Tracks 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.
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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.
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 (5.39am to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled.
The first train of the day from Ellesmere Port (6.17am to Liverpool Central) will only be in passenger service from Hooton onwards.
The first train of the day from Chester (5.55am to Liverpool Central) will only be in passenger service from Hooton onwards.
New Brighton line
The first train of the day (5.53am to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled.
The 6.16am Moorfields to New Brighton is cancelled.
West Kirby line
The first train of the day (5.51am to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled.
The 6.21am Moorfields to West Kirby is cancelled.
Southport line
The first train of the day from Sandhills (5.59am to Southport) will be cancelled.
The first train of the day from Southport (5.37am 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 (6.01am to Southport) will only be in passenger service from Liverpool Central onwards.
Ormskirk line
First train of the day (5.49am to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled.
Kirkby line
First train of the day (5.43am to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled.
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