Merseyrail has warned commuters to plan ahead as heavy wind and rain is set to hit Merseyside tomorrow. A weather warning is active from 12pm today and will last until tomorrow at 9pm.
Wind speeds could reach over 50mph in Liverpool for most of tomorrow, according to the Met Office forecast. As a result, changes will be made to the Merseyrail timetable, with some of the first trains of the day running without passengers.
Safety checks and timetable changes
Merseyrail says this is to ensure the rail lines are clear and safe to use. If an issue is found, further services may be cancelled.
Customers have been urged to check the Merseyrail website or app before travelling, as service information will be updated throughout the day. Rail replacement buses will be running between Sandhills, Rock Ferry and Moorfields stations as planned.
Cancelled services and first planned services
- 8.27am Sandhills to Southport - cancelled. First planned service: 8.39am.
- 8.05am Southport to Sandhills - cancelled. First planned service: 8.35am.
- 7.53am New Brighton to Birkenhead North - cancelled. First planned service: 8.23am.
- 7.42am Hooton to Rock Ferry - cancelled. First planned service: 7.56am.
Wider cancellations across the region
The weather forecast has already led to the cancellation of the River of Light Festival in Liverpool city centre and Cream Classical at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral today, as well as the Lark Lane and Tuebrook markets. There are also doubts about whether tomorrow's Halloween fun day at Aintree Racecourse will take place.
The Met Office's weather warning for this weekend said: "Strong winds will spread across northern parts of the UK during Saturday afternoon, combining with spells of heavy rain.
"Initially strong southerly winds will affect parts of Scotland before more widespread and even stronger westerly winds develop later on Saturday.
"Very windy conditions will then persist overnight and through much of Sunday before gradually easing from the southwest later. Gusts of 55-65 mph are likely widely with some coastal and exposed areas potentially seeing gusts of 70-80 mph or more, these strongest gusts most likely across Scotland and the far north of England."
