With no thought for the thousands of visitors attending The Open golf championship at Royal Birkdale this week, the rail union RMT is threatening industrial action that could affect Merseyrail services.

Services could be affected between Saturday, 18th and Monday, 20th July 2026 by an ongoing dispute over the Merseyrail employees’ 2026 pay award.

Among staff involved in the dispute are members of the RMT employed as station retailers, station assistants, train managers, revenue protection officers, control centre staff, cleaners and some head office employees.

Although there is a call for strike action, union members are still voting on a revised pay offer from Merseyrail. That ballot will not close until 12.00 midday tomorrow, Friday, 17th July.

Merseyrail initially offered a 4% pay increase for this year, and followed that with an improved offer of 7.25% over two years, which would be backdated to January 2026. It is that offer which is now being considered by union members, with its outcome determining whether industrial action takes place.

If the RMT’s threatened strike action takes place, Merseyrail services will be severely disrupted, and services in connection with The Open at Royal Birkdale will be prioritised.

To enable fans to get to and from Royal Birkdale, on Saturday, 18th, and Sunday, 19th July, the only services on the Merseyrail network will be a 15-minute service on the Southport line between 9 am and 9 pm, with a break in service around the middle of the day. These services will call at Liverpool Central, Blundellsands & Crosby, Hillside (for Royal Birkdale), and Southport.

Merseyrail plans to operate a limited service from 10 am to 7 pm on Monday, 20th July, with a break around midday.

Other cases of industrial action by the RMT include the London Underground and CrossCountry trains.

“While strike action has been called, our hope is that RMT members will support the revised offer currently being considered and that disruption to our customers and the wider Liverpool City Region can be avoided. The Open Championship is one of the most important events in the region’s calendar, attracting tens of thousands of visitors and generating significant benefits for local businesses, communities and the tourism economy.”

“Our teams are working hard to put contingency plans in place and, given the exceptional importance of The Open, we will prioritise a limited service between Liverpool and Southport to help spectators travel to and from Royal Birkdale. However, there will be significant disruption, and no services will operate across large parts of our network. We have made an improved pay offer worth 7.25% over two years, backdated to January 2026, and remain committed to working with the unions to reach a resolution. With members currently voting on that offer, I very much hope we can avoid disruption and continue to provide the service our customers expect during such an important weekend for the city region.”

Neil Grabham, Managing Director, Merseyrail