What’s happening?
People travelling to, from and within the Liverpool City Region are being urged to plan their journeys and check before they travel ahead of planned strike action by members the RMT union on Merseyrail and Northern rail services on:
- Monday 8th January 2018
- Wednesday 10th January 2018 and;
- Friday 12th January 2018
To help keep passengers moving and minimise disruption, a reduced Merseyrail service will be in place between 06:30-19:30 on the dates listed above.
How you can help
- Plan ahead and consider your alternative travel options. You can use the Merseytravel journey planner.
- Check timetables and leave more time for your journey.
- Avoid travelling at peak times where possible. Don’t aim for the last bus or train home as services are likely to be very busy.
- Stick to public transport wherever possible to reduce congestion on key routes in and out of the city centre including Mersey Tunnels.
- Speak to your employer about whether there is any flexibility in working times or the possibility of working from home.
What you need to know
Rail services
Merseyrail services
Merseyrail will be running a service every 30 minutes on most lines, with the exception of the New Brighton to Liverpool service, which will be every hour.
Services will run from around 06:30 to 19:30, with a break between approximately 11:00 and 13:30. All trains will be six cars long. Please note Wirral services will start and terminate from James Street station.
For more detailed information, please visit the Merseyrail website.
Trains will run as follows:
- Southport – Liverpool Central
Not calling at Freshfield, Hall Road, Bootle Oriel Road, Bank Hall and Sandhills
- Hooton – Liverpool James Street
Not calling at Eastham Rake, Bromborough Rake, Moorfields, Lime St and Liverpool Central
- West Kirby – Liverpool James Street
Not calling at Manor Road, Bidston, Birkenhead Park, Conway Park, Moorfields, Lime St and Liverpool Central
- Maghull – Liverpool Central
Not calling at Sandhills
- New Brighton – Liverpool James Street
Not calling at Moorfields, Lime St and Liverpool Central
There will be no service on the following lines:
- Hunts Cross – Liverpool Central
- Ellesmere Port – Hooton
- Chester – Hooton
- Ormskirk – Maghull
- Kirkby – Liverpool Central
If you use the Wrexham to Bidston line please note that there will be no rail connections at Bidston onto the Merseyrail services.
Passengers travelling to Birkenhead and Liverpool via the Borderlands service are advised to leave the train at Upton and pick up an Arriva cross river bus service to complete their journey.
Cyclists that use the train are asked to consider leaving their bike at home or at stations as rail services will be a lot busier. Cycle hire facilities are available at some stations and within the city centre to support passengers that require bicycles for their onward journey.
Merseyrail season (monthly and annual) tickets will be accepted on all Arriva services on 8th,10th and 12th January 2018, except between 07:00-09:00 and 16:00-18:00.
Northern rail services
Northern will operate a reduced service, with the majority of available trains operating between 07:00 and 19:00. Services on some routes will finish earlier and some stations will have no service.
As Northern is part of the Arriva group, customers will be usually be able to use their rail tickets on Arriva Bus services during strike days to make journeys they would otherwise have made by rail.
Mainline rail services
Other train operating companies such as TransPennine Express, East Midlands Trains and London Northwestern will continue to operate their existing train services between Warrington Central and Liverpool South Parkway and Liverpool Lime Street Main line station.
Please note that discussions between members of the RMT and TSSA unions and Virgin Trains are currently ongoing. Passengers are advised to check the Virgin trains websiteregularly, for the most up to date travel information for January 2018.
ADVICE: Passengers are strongly advised to check the Merseyrail and Northern websites and social media channels, @merseyrail or @northernassist, before travelling, as it is possible that timetables will change prior to, as well as during, strike action. Consider your options, plan ahead and adapt your plans, taking into account longer journey times. Don’t aim for the last scheduled train, get there early. Most final scheduled services will begin their journeys before 19:00.
Bus services
All bus services in the City Region are due to run as normal
Merseyrail season (monthly and annual) tickets will be accepted on all Arriva services on 8th,10th and 12th January 2018, except between 07:00-09:00 and 16:00-18:00.
As Northern is part of the Arriva group, customers will usually be able to use their rail tickets on Arriva Bus services during strike days to make journeys they would otherwise have made by rail.
Mersey Ferries
The Mersey Ferries may be a good alternative if you’re travelling cross river, services will be running as usual.
Morning commuter services from Seacombe to Liverpool Pier Head begin at 07:20 and run at about 20 minute intervals until 09:40.
Evening services from Liverpool Pier Head to Seacombe begin at 5pm and also run at about 20 minute intervals until 18:40.
There is free parking at Seacombe for 370 cars. Valid cross river rail tickets will be accepted on the 8th, 10th and 12th January 2018.
A full timetable of all cross river journeys is available at Mersey Ferries.
Current works to replace the old ‘four bridge’ –the ‘A’ bridges – along the A554 Tower Road in Wirral means there is no currently no through-route along this road. However Seacombe Ferry Terminal can still be accessed by following the well-marked diversion routes.
ADVICE: Plan your journey and check before you travel. Be prepared to allow longer for your journey due to the Wirral Dock bridge closure.
Planning your journey
For help planning your journey, or finding out what other services are available, please download the Merseytravel app or use the online journey planner.
OTS News on Social Media