Services will not run on the Merseyrail network on three days next week because of strike action, it has been confirmed.
Merseyrail and Network Rail have said services will be cancelled on Tuesday, June 21, Thursday, June 23, and Saturday, June 25.
The services have been cancelled because of a number of Network Rail staff will be taking industrial action.
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The RMT union recently announced that its members at Network Rail will be taking three days of industrial action as part of a dispute with Network Rail and 13 train operating companies nationally.
In a statement, Merseyrail said that while its staff are not taking part, the strikes will involve Network Rail staff who operate the signalling systems and provide "crucial maintenance which allow services to run safely".
It added: "The operator is therefore unable to provide any train services on days where industrial action is taking place".
Merseyrail also said that because of the strikes lasting 24 hours, there will also be "knock on effects" on the day after each industrial action date except for Sunday, June 26.
Services on Wednesday, June 22, and Friday, June 24, will begin later as the staff taking part in the action will not begin working until 7am.
There will be some limited rail replacement buses provided on these two mornings before the normal train service begins after 7am.
Phil James, North West route director at Network Rail, said: "We continue to meet with the trades unions to discuss their pay concerns and will do all we can to avoid strike action which has the potential to cause misery to hundreds of thousands of Merseyrail passengers throughout the week.
"With a fraction of the usual workforce available, including signallers who safely move trains around the network, unfortunately it means no Merseyrail services can run at all on strike days on 21st, 23rd and 25th June."
Andy Heath, managing director at Merseyrail, added: "It is very disappointing that we will be unable to provide a rail service to the people of the Liverpool City Region on the 21st, 23rd and 25th June, because of three days of industrial action by some Network Rail staff.
"Our network is unable to function without the support of Network Rail signalling and maintenance staff who play a critical role in the safe operation of our train services.
"We share the frustration of our passengers regarding the disruption and inconvenience this will undoubtedly cause."
