A travel warning has been issued for parts of the Merseyrail network during the summer holidays.
Network Rail has confirmed rail closures will take place next month as work begins to replace a bridge crossing over the River Alt. The rail company has advised those travelling on the Northern Line that trains will not be running from Monday, August 19, to Friday, August 23, as engineers replace the 110-year-old bridge with a new concrete structure to ensure it remains safe and secure for the future.
The £3.5m project will mean train services will be unable to run between Hall Road and Formby. Buses will run from these two stations, calling at all stops. There will also be non-stop buses running between Southport and Hall Road for the five days. This will result in journeys between Southport and Liverpool city centre taking an estimated 30 minutes longer.
READ MORE: Man says Merseyrail ‘must do better’ after what he saw on daily commute
READ MORE: Things you only know if you fly from Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Chris Penny, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: “I’d like to thank Merseyrail passengers for their patience while we replace the bridge across the River Alt in Formby.
“I’m also grateful to the local community who live near the bridge for their understanding. We will do all we can to keep disruption to an absolute minimum during the work.”
Suzanne Grant, chief commercial officer and deputy managing director at Merseyrail, said: “We’re sorry that customer journeys will be affected by this engineering work. However, the bridge replacement is essential.
“We have put a comprehensive rail replacement bus service in place, which will help customers get to where they need to be. During these essential works, customers should allow more time for their journeys.”