From Sunday, January 10, Merseyrail will be operating a reduced timetable due to the new Government COVID-19 lockdown. Tony McDonough reports
Merseyrail is reducing its services following the decision by the Government to introduce a new COVID-19 lockdown.
From Sunday, January 10, services on the Southport and Hunts Cross lines will return to a 30-minute frequency Monday to Sunday. The West Kirby and New Brighton lines will be running at a 45-minute frequency on Sundays.
These lines will continue to operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday with a 15-minute service between Birkenhead North and Liverpool. The timetable across the rest of the Merseyrail network continues to operate as follows:
- Ormskirk line – every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday.
- Kirkby line – every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday.
- Chester and Ellesmere Port lines – every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday (15-minute service between Hooton and Liverpool).
The West Kirby and New Brighton lines will be running at a 45-minute frequency on Sundays. Trains will be operating as six cars wherever possible across the network. Government issued travel advice is that passengers should only travel if they need to, and if travelling, to do so with confidence by planning ahead, avoiding busy times and routes where possible, and wearing a face covering while travelling (unless exempt).
Andy Heath, managing director at Merseyrail, said: “This new period of national restrictions means less passengers travelling with us but also a significant impact on the resources we have available to run our services. As a result, we have needed to make the difficult decision to amend our timetables.
“While we understand these changes may inconvenience some of our passengers, they are essential to ensure that we are able to run a safe, reliable and efficient service for those that need to travel during this challenging time.
“If you are travelling on the Merseyrail network, I’d urge you to follow government travel advice and remember to wear a face covering at all times unless exempt to help keep everyone safe.”
Commuters are advised to check Twitter @merseyrail or the website for all the latest information.