We are writing to thank you for your efforts in helping communicate travel information ahead of the first phase of Wirral loop line track renewal work. We are also seeking your support in signposting people to the information they need for phase 2 of the work. Beginning on Monday 13th February, this will see trains running between Liverpool and Wirral, Monday to Friday.
Despite the complexity of phase 1, it appears that people have adapted well to the alternative transport arrangements, put in place to keep the city region moving. We want to ensure this continues through this longer, middle tranche of work, which will go on for 15 weeks, finishing on Monday 29th May.
Key points for phase 2, starting Monday 13th February:
- James Street station will be back in use Monday to Friday and for special events, such as the Grand National Festival, Easter and the May bank holidays.
- Weekends will see a continuation of the high quality, express rail-replacement service between Birkenhead and Liverpool. The Mersey Ferries and existing cross-river bus services also remain cross-river options, as does the car at weekends, with the tunnels generally flowing freely on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Trains will not run around the city-centre loop throughout the track renewal work, with valid rail tickets accepted on the frequent 10A bus service, linking James Street, Moorfields and Lime Street stations.
- The Northern line remains unaffected by the work.
While direct rail services to and from the city centre are to be welcomed, the first week of phase 2 (13th-17th February) will present challenges, as only one platform will be available at James Street station. However, by the second week (20th February-29th May), two will be in use.
Although trains will once again be running Monday to Friday, people are still being advised to plan their journeys in advance, as services will still be running to the same timetables as phase 1. Specific advice for cyclists and other people with travel needs can be found at www.merseyrail.org/trackrenewal
Key advice
- Please bear with us. While trains will run in and out of James Street on weekdays from 13 February, queues can be expected, as there will only be one platform in use. Queues are likely to be shorter from Monday 20th February, when two platforms will be available.
- Leave more time for your journey. James Street will be the only station in the city centre where you can catch Wirral line trains, so it will be a lot busier than usual.
- Avoid taking the train to and from James Street at peak times wherever possible and use the Water Street entrance. This will help keep queues to a minimum.
- Consider your travel options. There are several ways to cross the Mersey during the week and at weekends. Existing cross-river bus services may be a convenient option, or the Mersey Ferries.
- Ensure you’ve read up on phase 2 at www.merseyrail.org/trackrenewal
- There are differences in travel plans between weekdays and weekends and specific advice for cyclists and those with disabilities.
The Wirral loop line track renewal project, which will be completed by the middle of June, involves Network Rail replacing the most challenging sections of concrete based track in the loop, originally laid in the 1970s and renewing the conventional track under the riverbed.
Network Rail, Merseyrail and Merseytravel, have been working for more than a year with local authorities, operators and other partners, to come up with a plan that enables this essential and complex work to be done, while keeping people moving and the city region open for business.
If you have comments or ideas on how the work is going or would be interested in attending the monthly forums that we are running, please contact railimprovements@merseytravel.gov.uk
In the meantime, we hope, like us, that you welcome this project, which is part of the £340m investment in the railway of the Liverpool city region.
We thank you for your help and continued patience.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Rogers, Chief Executive, Merseytravel
Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, Managing Director, Merseyrail
Martin Frobisher, Route Managing Director, Network Rail