Merseyrail warns Wirral line services face disruption on Friday (October 20) amid a severe weather warning from the Met Office. Tony McDonough reports

Services on the Merseyrail Chester and Ellesmere routes are likely to be disrupted by severe weather on Friday (October 20).

The Met Office has issued a series of yellow and amber alerts for the region from midday. It warns of very heavy rain and brings the likelihood of some flooding and disruption. 

Worst of the forecast weather is expected to cause significant disruption to the Chester and Ellesmere Port lines on the Merseyrail network. Anyone planning to travel on Merseyrail tomorrow is advised to check before travelling.

Contingency work is being undertaken by Network Rail and Merseyrail, but it is likely that trains may be replaced by rail replacement buses from 11am on routes between Rock Ferry and Chester and Rock Ferry and Ellesmere Port.

Roads may also be affected by the bad weather, and this could impact on the rail replacement bus service.

If the weather does improve Merseyrail will work hard to get services restored as soon as possible Latest information will be available via the Merseyrail website at www.merseyrail.org the Merseyrail app or following Merseyrail on twitter @Merseyrail

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Neil Grabham, managing director at Merseyrail, said: “As a rail operator our first priority is the safety of our customers and staff. Given the weather warnings from the Met Office, we are taking steps to warn our customers in advance of likely disruption tomorrow. 

“Our team and colleagues from Network Rail will be working overnight and throughout tomorrow to provide the best service possible, but the weather forecast tomorrow afternoon does look particularly poor.”