Merseyrail train services on the Northern and Wirral lines will be disrupted for 26 days this autumn while engineers carry out a £3.5m improvement of the network.

During the work, four underground tunnels will be waterproofed to improve service reliability by preventing the ingress of water into the tunnels, and the consequent problems that water may cause to the third-rail electricity supply.

The closure will be from Sunday 11 October to Friday 6 November.

Power control systems across both the Northern and Wirral lines will also be modernised at the same time, to make it quicker and easier to switch off the electricity supply to the third rail when engineers need to carry out planned maintenance or respond to unexpected faults.

Because of the scale and complexity of the project, Merseyrail must close the Northern line between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central while the work is ongoing.

Also, on Sundays during the work, the closure will be extended to Sandhills station on the Northern line, and to parts of the Wirral line.

While the work takes place, rail replacement buses will be in operation to ensure passengers can complete their journeys, with normal services scheduled to resume from the morning of Saturday, 7th November.

Further information about the closure and its effect on services can be obtained at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

In May, Merseyrail marked a significant milestone when it passed one million Merseyrail journeys with Tap and Go since the system’s introduction.

Passengers travelling on Merseyrail trains should note that from 1st January 2027, non-folding e-bikes will be banned.

“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.

Paul Owen, Liverpool Area Director, Network Rail

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.”

Stephen Dodd, Chief Operating Officer, Merseyrail