Rail union RMT will hold three 24-hour strikes in the space of a few days and Merseyrail will run a ‘limited service’ across Liverpool city region. Tony McDonough reports
Merseyrail says it will run a “limited service” across its Northern and Wirral Lines during three 24-hour rail strikes that will take place from next weekend.
These will take place from 2am on Saturday, November 5, to 1.59am on Sunday, November 6, from 2am on Monday, November 7, to 1.59am on Tuesday, November 8, and from 2am on Wednesday, November 9, to 1.59am on Thursday, November 10.
Although Merseyrail staff are not taking part in the action it will include Network Rail signalling and maintenance employees. Merseyrail is limited in the number of trains that they can run.
As a result, the operator will run an hourly service calling at all stations on selected lines between 7:30am and 6.30pm to help passengers make essential journeys. There are no rail-replacement buses on strike days.
A previously announced closure of Liverpool Central station from Sunday, November 6, to Wednesday, November 9, for major engineering works, will now not take place. Services are as follows.
- Chester and Ellesmere Port lines: No trains will operate between Chester and Rock Ferry or Ellesmere Port and Rock Ferry. Trains will run hourly between Rock Ferry and Liverpool Central, calling at all stations.
- New Brighton line: Trains will run hourly, calling at all stations.
- West Kirby line: Trains will run hourly, calling at all stations.
- Southport line: Trains will run hourly, calling at all stations.
- Hunts Cross line: No trains will operate between Liverpool Central and Hunts Cross.
- Ormskirk line: Trains will run hourly, calling at all stations.
- Kirkby line: Trains will run hourly, calling at all stations.
On Tuesday, November 8, and Thursday, November 10, train services will begin at 7.30am. There will be no rail replacement buses for the affected services before 7.30am. On Sunday, November 6, a normal timetable will operate.
Jane English, acting managing director at Merseyrail, said: “Despite Merseyrail staff not being involved, unfortunately the national industrial action does have an impact on our network.
“We continue to work closely with Network Rail and our other partners to ensure that we can minimise disruption to our passengers.”
People who normally require assistance to travel are advised to speak to a member of station staff or contact Merseyrail’s customer service team via the operator’s website prior to making their journey.
Full timetables are available via the operator’s website at www.merseyrail.org/strike