Commuters using Merseyrail's Hunts Cross line face the first weekday challenge of getting into work today (Monday, October 12) with all services suspended. All trains on the Hunts Cross to Moorfields section of the Northern line are off to allow Network Rail to carry out "essential engineering work".
£3.5m tunnel project
The £3.5m project will see engineers strengthen and waterproof four tunnels that bring services into the city centre from south Liverpool. 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.
Closure dates and replacement services
Services ceased to operate from yesterday, Sunday, October 10, until Saturday, November 7. While Liverpool FC's match at Anfield against Manchester City on Sunday was the initial test of how the city would fare with the service restrictions, today marks the first weekday and first challenge for commuters getting to work.
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. Liverpool Central is on this route but is not covered by the replacement buses.
Ticket and travel advice
Valid Merseyrail tickets will be accepted on all rail replacement bus services. Customers using Tap & Go should tap in and tap out at a station validator. If they forget to tap out, they can register on the MetroSmart website to add the missing tap and avoid an incomplete journey charge. Additional staff will be available across the network to help customers during the engineering works, and rail replacement bus drivers have been advised that customers may be travelling using Tap & Go on rail replacement bus services.
Train services will run between Liverpool Central and Southport, Liverpool Central and Ormskirk, and Liverpool Central and Headbolt Lane. There is currently no disruption on the line and services are running to time.
