Liverpool FC has warned fans travelling to Anfield for the Manchester City match today, Sunday October 11, to plan ahead due to a Merseyrail line closure. The Reds' fan help page confirmed work on large parts of the Northern line will start today, which will affect supporters travelling to this afternoon's match.
Merseyrail line closure details
Merseyrail has closed the Hunts Cross to Moorfields section of the Northern line so Network Rail can carry out "essential engineering work". The £3.5m project will see engineers strengthen and waterproof four tunnels that bring services into the city centre from south Liverpool.
Ahead of the match against Manchester City at Anfield, Liverpool FC said: "Merseyrail work begins Sunday and will affect match travel. Northern line services won't run between Hunts Cross and Liverpool city centre, while Wirral line services will terminate at James Street. Please allow extra time and plan ahead."
Impact on services and replacement buses
Merseyrail previously said all services on the Hunts Cross line would cease to operate between today and Saturday, November 7. The work is designed to prevent water entering the tunnels and affecting the 750V electrified third rail, helping to reduce the risk of power failures, emergency speed restrictions, and unplanned closures across the network.
Merseyrail said the project would also install new track feeder switches. These will allow engineers to remotely isolate smaller sections of the railway to enable faster repairs and reduce disruption for passengers.
The rail operator confirmed that during the line closure rail replacement buses will serve the stations without services, which includes Hunts Cross, Liverpool South Parkway, Cressington, Aigburth, St Michaels, Brunswick and Moorfields. While Liverpool Central is on this route, it is not covered by the replacement buses.
Advice for passengers
The operator confirmed that its rail replacement buses will run as closely as possible to the usual train timetable. But customers are advised that rail replacement buses can take longer than train journeys and allowing extra time for their journey and planning ahead using the Merseyrail website and app is advised.
Valid Merseyrail tickets will be accepted on all the rail replacement bus services. For those using the newly installed Tap & Go system, they should tap in and out at a station validator. If a customer forgets to tap out, they can register on the MetroSmart website to add their missing tap and avoid an incomplete journey charge.
Train services will be running as usual between: Southport - Liverpool Central, Ormskirk - Liverpool Central, Headbolt Lane - Liverpool Central. Liverpool host Manchester City for their first Premier League fixture following the international break. It is also City's first game since being found guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18, leading to significant question marks about the club's achievements during that time. The club denies any wrongdoing and appealed the verdict last week.
