THOUSANDS of commuters are facing weeks of disruption as a major part of the Merseyrail network is shut down for repairs.

The Northern Line service between Liverpool Central and Hunts Cross, in the south of the city, will close for five weeks.

Those who normally travel by train will be offered a replacement bus service by operator Merseyrail, although this will inevitably take longer due to traffic.

Network Rail are due to begin maintenance on the line on Saturday.

And they are not due to finish their work until August 27, just one day before 200,000 revellers flood the city for the annual Mathew Street music festival. Merseyrail runs the local train network but do not own the track, and are not responsible for maintenance work.

Their spokesman, Rudi Boersma, said: “It’s all to do with our colleagues at Network Rail doing work in south Liverpool.

“It’s such major renewal work, it has to be carried out for some time and the time to do it is during the summer holidays when fewer people are travelling on it every day.”