Train chaos ahead

Apr 11 2007 by Mike Hornby, Liverpool Echo

MERSEYSIDE rail passengers are bracing themselves for disruption caused by a new wave of engineering works.

The hardest hit will be commuters from Southport and Wirral, where the Merseyrail lines will be closed for up to six weeks from later this month.

The work will continue into the city’s Capital of Culture year and beyond.

It comes 12 months after the Wirral and Northern Lines were shut down for weeks as part of the same engineering scheme.

Network Rail is midway through a five-year scheme to re-lay the whole Merseyrail track, linking Southport, Kirkby, Ormskirk, Hunts Cross and Wirral to the city centre.

Commuters today urged Network Rail, which maintains the track, to get the job over and done with.

Jemma Hodge, a legal clerk from New Brighton, said: “Each year we are fed this nonsense about short-term pain for long-term gain, but 12 months later the engineers are back again.”

The Wirral closures will mean the loop line closing from April 21 to May 28 when all services will stop at James Street.

Further works next February will hit the start of the Capital of Culture celebrations when services will stop at Hamilton Square.

In 2009 services between Moorfields and Lime Street will be hit.

Network Rail says working conditions in the rail tunnels under the Mersey, city centre and Birkenhead are so tough only small sections of track can be upgraded at a time.

From Monday April 23 to Sunday April 29, buses will operate between Hall Road, Crosby, and Southport.

This work follows seven weeks of engineering on the same stretch last summer.

Robert Davies, 38, from Hightown, a computer engineer, said: “In my experience, the replacement bus services just can’t cope.”

Lindsay Hughes, 28, from Southport, added: “They should just close three stations at a time or do the work at night.”

Jo Kaye, area general manager for Network Rail said: “This is phase three of a £15m five-phase plan, and demonstrates Network Rail's continued commitment to the Merseyrail network and the people of Merseyside.”