Services at Cressington station in south Liverpool will be reduced from a 15-minute frequency to a 40-minute timetable during next week's 154th Open golf championship at Royal Birkdale, prompting anger from local campaigners. Councillor Richard Clein, who represents the ward, described the situation as "going backwards" and criticised authorities for failing to take responsibility.
Service Cuts During Major Event
The Open, one of golf's most prestigious events, begins on Thursday July 16 and is expected to draw thousands of fans from around the world to Royal Birkdale, located a mile from Southport. Many spectators will use the Merseyrail network to travel across the Liverpool City Region. However, passengers at Cressington will face significant disruption as the usual 15-minute service is slashed to 40 minutes.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram acknowledged the issue during an appearance on BBC Radio Merseyside, attributing the problem to faulty beacons at Cressington that monitor train door positions. He explained that to accommodate eight-car services—necessary to handle the influx of golf fans—the station's beacons must function correctly. "There's one minor inconvenience and that's Cressington and we've had issues with Cressington in the past," Rotheram said. He added that the impact on public transport had been "minimised" but could not be avoided at that station.
Safety Concerns and Blame Game
Rotheram stressed that safety is the top priority, noting that the malfunctioning beacons could cause doors on the final two carriages to open unsafely. "The only issue that we've got, because we have to put on as many eight car services as it is possible to squeeze on the system, like we do with the football, Cressington is an issue for us because there are some beacons that are in Cressington and they're not working as they should," he said. He revealed that the problem had been known for "18 months, two years" and that he had been pressing the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which operates Merseyrail, for answers.
Cllr Clein, who previously campaigned to keep the station open at weekends, expressed fury at the situation. "Over a month ago, a resident got in touch with me to say they'd got on an eight-car train and they were told only four of them could be used," he told the Liverpool Echo. "Just when I thought we were going forward, we seem to be going backwards again. Listening to the Mayor yesterday, I was fuming." He added: "What really angers me is nobody is taking responsibility. I don't think he was clear about that. My issue now is, will it be ready for the new football season? Last season, when Everton played at home, it caused issues. It's an absolute mess, it needs sorting out. How long do these tests have to be?"
Broader Implications for Commuters
The disruption highlights ongoing infrastructure challenges on the Merseyrail network, particularly at Cressington, which has faced repeated issues. With the new football season approaching, concerns remain that the problem could escalate further, affecting not just golf fans but regular commuters and matchday travellers. The combined authority has yet to announce a timeline for repairing the beacons.
