Merseyrail has issued a warning that rail services could be severely disrupted this weekend due to strike action by RMT union members, coinciding with the 154th Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale. If the strike goes ahead, no Merseyrail trains will run on any part of the network except those serving the golf tournament.
Strike dates and cause
The industrial action is scheduled from Saturday July 18 to Monday July 20, 2026, with two of those days falling during the prestigious golf event that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region. The strike stems from a dispute over Merseyrail's 2026 pay award. RMT-represented staff include station retailers, station assistants, train managers, revenue protection officers, control centre staff, cleaners, and some head office employees.
Union members are currently voting on a revised pay offer from Merseyrail, with the ballot closing at midday on Friday July 17. The improved offer is worth 7.25% over two years, backdated to January 2026, following the rejection of an initial 4% increase for 2026. The outcome of the ballot will determine whether the strike proceeds.
Limited service for The Open
If strike action takes place, Merseyrail will operate a very limited service. On Saturday and Sunday, a 15-minute service will run only on the Southport line to support spectators traveling to Royal Birkdale. Trains will call at Liverpool Central, Blundellsands and Crosby, Hillside (for Royal Birkdale), and Southport, operating between 9am and 9pm with a break in the middle of the day. No services will run elsewhere on the network.
On Monday July 20, a limited service will operate across the network from 10am to approximately 7pm, also with a midday break. Full timetable details will be published on the Merseyrail website and journey planner.
Statements from Merseyrail and RMT
Neil Grabham, Managing Director of Merseyrail, said: "While strike action has been called, our hope is that RMT members will support the revised offer currently being considered and that disruption to our customers and the wider Liverpool City Region can be avoided. The Open Championship is one of the most important events in the region's calendar, attracting tens of thousands of visitors and generating significant benefits for local businesses, communities and the tourism economy."
He added: "Our teams are working hard to put contingency plans in place and, given the exceptional importance of The Open, we will prioritise a limited service between Liverpool and Southport to help spectators travel to and from Royal Birkdale. However, there will be significant disruption, and no services will operate across large parts of our network."
An RMT spokesperson said: "Our members have voted for strike action in a row over pay and we continue to seek a negotiated settlement."
