Merseyrail announces timetable changes for 2021

Merseyrail has announced changes to its timetables for passengers travelling in the New Year.

In the last few weeks, trains between Hunts Cross and Southport have terminated at Liverpool Central, and trains from Ormskirk have run between Hunts Cross and Ormskirk.

From Saturday 2 January, trains will resume running direct between Hunts Cross and Southport. Services on this line will continue to run every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday with a 30-minute service on Sundays.

As part of the changes, trains from Southport to Hunts Cross will be departing up to 2 minutes earlier than the current timetable.

If you are heading into town for Christmas shopping, get there by train with @Merseyrail. They are doing lots to help keep you safe when travelling on the network.

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Ormskirk line trains will return to commencing and terminating at Liverpool Central. Passengers wishing to travel between Ormskirk and Hunts Cross from 2 January will need to change at Liverpool Central.

Services on this line will continue to operate every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday. There will also be a new timetable on this line which will improve connections towards Preston. Full details on this can be found on the Merseyrail website.

The timetable across the rest of the Merseyrail network continues to operate as follows:

 – Kirkby line – every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday

 – Chester and Ellesmere Port lines – every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday (15-minute service between Hooton and Liverpool)

 – West Kirby and New Brighton lines – every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday (15-minute service between Birkenhead North and Liverpool)

Throughout January and February there will also be weekend engineering works taking place at various locations across the network resulting in rail replacement buses operating. Passengers are advised to check the Merseyrail website before travelling at weekends during this period to see if their journey will be affected: https://www.merseyrail.org/engineering.

There may be further amendments and the timetable will be reviewed in-line with government public health advice as local restrictions change. Merseyrail encourages all customers to check before you travel. This can be done by visiting the website www.merseyrail.org or the Merseyrail Twitter account @merseyrail for the latest information.

Andy Heath, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said:

“Following recent changes to our timetable, I’m pleased to confirm that direct services between Hunts Cross and Southport will return from 2 January.

“I would draw passengers’ attention to our website which – as well as carrying the latest up-to-date travel information – also contains full details of the programme of weekend engineering works taking place during January and February.

“As we continue to work through the COVID-19 pandemic, we would encourage our passengers to travel by train with confidence by following government travel advice including the need to wear a face covering on our network unless you are exempt.”

Full timetable information can be found here.