Merseyrail confirm New Year timetable changes

There will be changes to some timetables for passengers travelling on the Southport, Hunts Cross and Ormskirk lines in the New Year.

From Saturday 2 January, Southport services will start and terminate at Hunts Cross, with Ormskirk trains starting and terminating at Liverpool Central.

Passengers wishing to travel between Ormskirk and Hunts Cross from 2 January will need to change at Liverpool Central.

As part of the changes, trains from Southport to Hunts Cross will be departing up to 2 minutes earlier than the current timetable, and a new timetable will be in place on the Ormskirk line.

Services between Southport and Hunts Cross will continue to run every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday with a 30-minute service on Sundays.

Services between Ormskirk and Liverpool Central will continue to operate every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday.

Sunday services on the Southport line will operate every 30 minutes.

The timetable across the rest of the Merseyrail network continues to operate as follows:

• Kirkby line – every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday
• Chester and Ellesmere Port lines – every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday (15-minute service between Hooton and Liverpool)
• West Kirby and New Brighton lines – every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday (15-minute service between Birkenhead North and Liverpool)

Full timetable information can be found below.

Planned Engineering Work

Throughout January and February there will also be weekend engineering works taking place at various locations across the network resulting in rail replacement buses operating.

For full details on the upcoming engineering work click here.

6 Car Services

Passengers who would prefer to travel on six-car trains can visit this webpage to check which services are operating as six-car-trains in advance.

Travel Advice

From Wednesday 2 December, government-issued travel advice is that passengers can travel with confidence by following the advice below:

• • Avoid peak travel if you can (between 07:00-09:30 and 16:00-18:30)
  • Allow extra time for your journey
  • Face coverings must be worn at all times at stations or on trains, unless exempt. Maximum fines of £6,400 can be issued by British Transport Police for those refusing to comply
  • Use contactless payments where possible
  • Wash or sanitise hands as soon as possible before and after travel
  • Remain seated where you can
  • Maintain social distancing where possible
  • Follow advice from staff and be considerate to other passengers
  • Do not use public transport if you, or a member of your household, has COVID-19 symptoms or you have been instructed to self-isolate.
  • Aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible.