Passengers travelling on the Merseyrail network are being advised to prepare for significant disruption this autumn as Network Rail carries out a major £3.5 million programme of upgrades aimed at improving the long-term reliability of services across Liverpool's underground rail network.
The essential engineering works will see four underground Victorian-era tunnels waterproofed and strengthened during a 26-day closure between Sunday 11 October and Friday 6 November.
The project has been designed to tackle water ingress issues that can affect the third-rail power supply, helping to reduce delays and improve service reliability for passengers in the years ahead.
Due to the scale and complexity of the work, the Northern Line will be closed between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central for just under four weeks. Rail replacement bus services will operate throughout the closure to help passengers complete their journeys.
Network Rail and Merseyrail are encouraging customers to plan ahead and check travel arrangements before travelling via National Rail Enquiries and Merseyrail's passenger information channels.
Paul Owen, Network Rail Liverpool Area Director, said:
"This is a significant £3.5m investment into the underground section of the Merseyrail network to maintain four Victorian-built tunnels for 21st century passengers.
“We understand that this work will be disruptive, so we’re working with Merseyrail to minimise the impact of the upgrades as much as possible. We’re also giving people advance notice so they can forward plan their journeys by visiting National Rail Enquiries or Merseyrail’s websites during our work.”
Alongside the tunnel improvements, Network Rail will use the closure period to modernise power control systems across both the Northern and Wirral lines.
The enhancements will enable engineers to switch the electrified third rail on and off more efficiently when carrying out planned maintenance or responding to unplanned incidents, helping to improve operational resilience across the network.
On Sundays during the engineering period, the closure area will extend beyond Liverpool Central to include Sandhills on the Northern Line, as well as sections of the Wirral Line.
Stephen Dodd, Chief Operating Officer at Merseyrail, said:
“We'd like to thank our passengers for their patience while this important work is carried out. These upgrades will help improve the long-term reliability of the Northern Line and reduce the risk of future disruption. We encourage customers to plan ahead and check before they travel during the closure."
Services are scheduled to resume from the start of operations on Saturday 7 November following completion of the programme.
While the temporary closure will create challenges for regular travellers, the investment represents a significant step towards maintaining and modernising one of the UK's busiest self-contained urban rail networks.
Image credits: Network Rail
