Liverpool Rail Works to Disrupt City Travel for 26 Days
A £3.5 million upgrade to four Victorian tunnels beneath Liverpool will begin on Sunday 11 October and affect Merseyrail journeys for almost four weeks. Network Rail will strengthen and waterproof the tunnels and modernise power-control equipment used on the Northern and Wirral lines. Replacement buses and altered train services will operate during the works, with normal Northern Line services scheduled to return on Saturday 7 November.
How Services Will Run During the Works
- Northern Line closure: No trains between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central from 11 October to 6 November.
- Monday–Saturday: Replacement buses run Hunts Cross–Moorfields; trains run Liverpool Central–Southport, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane.
- Sundays: Buses run Hunts Cross–Sandhills; trains from Southport, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane terminate at Sandhills.
- Normal service: Scheduled to resume on Saturday 7 November.
- Journey planning: Check Merseyrail’s Journey Planner before setting out.
Sunday travel will also change on the Wirral Line. On 11 and 18 October, trains from West Kirby, New Brighton, Chester and Ellesmere Port will terminate at James Street, with no services at Moorfields, Lime Street or Liverpool Central. On 25 October and 1 November, trains will terminate at Birkenhead North or Rock Ferry, with replacement buses continuing towards Moorfields.
Liverpool South Parkway, the main rail interchange used for Liverpool John Lennon Airport, sits on the affected section. Airport passengers can still use local buses: the 86A links the airport, South Parkway and Liverpool ONE every 7–8 minutes, while the 500 runs directly between the airport and Liverpool ONE every 30 minutes. These may be simpler than combining replacement buses with rail during the closure.
“We understand that this work will be disruptive, so we’re working with Merseyrail to minimise the impact of the upgrades as much as possible and are asking passengers to plan their journeys using the National Rail or Merseyrail websites."
Passengers travelling on Sundays should pay particular attention to accessibility arrangements. On 11 and 18 October, Platform 2 at James Street has no lift access for affected New Brighton and Ellesmere Port services. Step-free passengers can travel via Hamilton Square, while an accessible bus to Moorfields is scheduled every 30 minutes. Because weekday and Sunday arrangements differ, checking the exact date is important before heading into central Liverpool.