One of the busiest stations on the Merseyrail network will close to Northern Line passengers for three days due to the rollout of the new £500m train fleet. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool Central station will close to Northern Line passengers for three days amid the continued roll-out of the new £500m class 77 train fleet.

In January the first units in the 52-strong fleet were successfully introduced onto the Kirkby line. Now more work needs to be carried out to accommodate eight-car trains at Central which are due to overstate as part of the programme.

For the work to be completed quickly and safely, Liverpool Central station will close to Northern line services from 10pm on Sunday, February 26, until the end of service on Wednesday, March 1 (four evenings, three days). Services affected are:

• Hunts Cross line: The Liverpool Central station closure means the Hunts Cross line will not operate between those dates. A rail-replacement bus service will be in operation between Moorfields and Hunts Cross, calling at all stations.  
• Southport and Ormskirk line: From 10pm on Sunday, February 26 until 8pm on Wednesday, March 1, Southport and Ormskirk line services will operate every 20 minutes and start/terminate at Moorfields. After 8pm services will operate every 30 minutes.
• Kirkby line: From 10pm on Sunday, February 26 until 8pm on Wednesday, March 1, Kirkby line services will operate every 20 minutes and start/terminate at Sandhills. After 8pmservices will operate every 30 minutes and start/terminate at Moorfields. 
• From 8pm on Wednesday, March 1, Southport, Ormskirk and Kirkby services will start and terminate at Sandhills. A rail replacement bus service will run between Sandhills and Hunts Cross.

All routes will reopen as normal for the start of services on Thursday, March 2. Wirral line services will not be affected.

Zoe Hands, chief operating officer at Merseyrail, said: “These planned works are a vital part of the modernisation of the Merseyrail network and will enable the continued roll out of the new Class 777 trains.

READ MORE: New Merseyrail trains mean new timetable

“We would like to apologise to our passengers for the disruption that is being caused and thank them for their patience while this essential work is being carried out.

You can be assured that we do not take the decision to close Liverpool Central station to the Northern line lightly, and only after all other options have been exhausted.”