Merseyrail cuts timetable just days after 3.8% fare increase

Merseyrail will revert back to a 30-minute timetable from next week, blaming staff shortages caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The move comes just days after the travel company’s annual price rise, which saw fares rise by 3.8% last week.

From Monday 17 January until further notice, a 30-minute timetable will run from the start to the end of service on all lines.

Prior to this, between 10 and 16 January, there will be pre-planned cancellations in place on the Merseyrail network.

Andy Heath, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said: “Our staff have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to ensure that we can provide a safe and reliable service to the people of the Liverpool City Region.

“However, as is the case on other parts of the UK rail network, the Omicron variant has significantly increased the number of front-line staff being absent from work. This means that we need to reduce the number of trains we run to ensure that our services remain reliable.

“I would advise all customers to check our website and social media feeds before they travel, and we will continue to work hard to provide the best service that we can.”