Lime Street reopens but disruption looms on trains

Liverpool’s Lime Street railway station is re-opening today (Monday, January 8) after it was forced to close at the weekend for urgent maintenance work.

The station was closed yesterday when severe corrosion was found on a structure which carries overhead wires over all four lines, preventing trains from passing underneath.

However, passengers travelling in and out of the city were bracing themselves for industrial action by the RMT union today, Wednesday and Friday, which will affect Merseyrail and Northern services.

Merseyrail services are planned to run every 30 minutes with the exception of the New Brighton to Liverpool services which will be every hour, from around 6:30am to 7:30pm, with a break in service between approximately 11am and 1.30pm.

Wirral services will start and terminate from James Street Station.

There will be no services on the following lines: Hunts Cross – Liverpool Central; Ellesmere Port – Hooton; Chester – Hooton, Kirkby – Liverpool Central and Ormskirk – Maghull.

Merseyrail tickets will be accepted on Arriva bus services, except between 7am-09am and 4pm-6pm.

Passengers are strongly advised to check the Merseyrail website and Twitter @Merseyrail before travelling, as it is possible that timetables will change prior to, as well as during, strike action.

Northern rail will operate a reduced service, with the majority of available trains operating between 7am and 7pm. Services on some routes will finish earlier and some stations will have no service.

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