Rail passengers across Liverpool are being urged to plan ahead as a major £3.5 million programme of infrastructure upgrades on the Merseyrail network gets underway next month.
Network Rail will carry out a 26-day project to strengthen and waterproof four underground tunnels in Liverpool city centre, helping to improve reliability and resilience across the network for years to come.
The investment forms part of Network Rail's ongoing commitment to maintaining critical railway assets and ensuring the Victorian-era infrastructure can continue to meet the demands of modern passenger services.
What the £3.5m Investment Includes
The programme will deliver several key improvements across the underground network, including:
- Strengthening four underground tunnels
- Waterproofing tunnel walls to reduce the impact of water ingress
- Renewing systems used to isolate and control the electrified third rail
Due to the scale of the work, Merseyrail's Northern Line between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central will be closed from Sunday 11 October until Friday 6 November.
Additional disruption will affect services on Sundays throughout the closure period, extending to Sandhills station on the Northern Line and parts of the Wirral Line.
To help passengers complete their journeys, replacement bus services will operate throughout the engineering works.
Alongside the tunnel upgrades, Network Rail will also undertake modernisation of power control systems across both the Northern and Wirral lines.
‘Don't Get Spooked This Autumn’
A public information campaign has been launched to raise awareness of the forthcoming closure and encourage passengers to check travel arrangements before setting out.
Customers are being advised to visit National Rail Enquiries and the Merseyrail website for the latest travel information and alternative journey options.
Industry Reaction
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.”
Stephen Dodd, Merseyrail chief operating officer, 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."
Long-Term Benefits for Passengers
The improvements are designed to reduce future infrastructure-related delays and improve the long-term reliability of services used by millions of passengers each year.
Once the work has been completed, normal train services are scheduled to resume from the start of service on Saturday 7 November.
Image credits: Network Rail
