Merseyrail back on track
THERE is relief after Merseyrail announced a return to regular 15 minute services on most parts of the network.
The region’s rail services were majorly disrupted last week after Merseyrail said ‘unexpected faults’ on trains meant they had to cut back on the number of vehicles they could deploy.
This meant reduced timetables in place, with trains running every 30 minutes on the Ormskirk, Kirkby, Hunts Cross, New Brighton, West Kirby, Chester and Ellesmere Port lines.
The latest disruption came a week after faults caused cancellations and replacement buses to be in place on the Kirkby and New Brighton lines. From Monday last week, frustrated passengers were forced to cram on to reduced and smaller trains to get to and from work.
It was a particular blow considering the regular 15-minute timetable had only returned in April after years of pandemicrelated disruption.
But there is some good news as Merseyrail confirmed that the 15-minute timetable returned for key periods this week. On the Southport to Hunts Cross line, the regular timetable will be back in place at all times, while other lines will see the 15-minute trains return between the peak times of 7am and 7pm, with 30 minute services in place around these times.
With trains now beginning to re-enter service following repair the following changes will apply from Monday June 20:
Trains on the Ormskirk, Kirkby, Chester, New Brighton, and West Kirby lines will run every 15 minutes between approximately 7am and 7pm, with a 30-minute service operating outside of these hours.
Between Southport and Hunts Cross trains will run every 15 minutes from the start to the end of service.
On the Ellesmere Port line, the normal 30-minute service will continue to operate
A 30-minute service will continue to run on Sundays across all lines.
Meanwhile, commuters are being prepared for further serious disruption with a UK wide rail strike taking place this week. Whilst Merseyrail staff are not taking part in this industrial action, it will involve Network Rail staff who operate the signalling systems and provide crucial maintenance which allow services to run safely.
The current planned dates for strikes are Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 June. The entire Merseyrail network will close down on three days next week as national rail strikes take place.