Merseyrail passengers warned of 26-day Northern line closure in October
Merseyrail passengers are being warned to plan ahead for a 26-day closure of the Northern line this autumn, while Network Rail carries out £3.5m of tunnel repairs and power-system upgrades.
The railway will be closed between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central from Sunday 11 October to Friday 6 November 2026. Trains are due to start running again on the morning of Saturday 7 November.
Network Rail will waterproof and strengthen four underground tunnels. The work is intended to stop water reaching the railway and affecting the third-rail electricity supply, helping to improve long-term reliability.
Paul Owen, Network Rail Liverpool Area Director, said: “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.”
Stephen Dodd, Chief Operating Officer at Merseyrail, said: “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.”
Rail replacement buses will run during the closure. From Monday to Saturday, buses will operate between Hunts Cross and Moorfields, while amended train services from Southport, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane will run to Liverpool Central.
On Sundays, buses will run between Hunts Cross and Sandhills. Trains from Southport, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane will run to Sandhills instead of Liverpool Central.
The closure will also affect the Wirral line on Sundays. On Sunday 11 October and Sunday 18 October, services from West Kirby, New Brighton, Chester and Ellesmere Port will run to James Street. They will not stop at Moorfields, Liverpool Lime Street or Liverpool Central.
On Sunday 25 October and Sunday 1 November, services from New Brighton and West Kirby will run to Birkenhead North, while trains from Chester and Ellesmere Port will run to Rock Ferry. Replacement buses will connect Birkenhead North and Rock Ferry with Moorfields.
Power control systems will also be modernised across the Northern and Wirral lines while the closure is in place. The changes are intended to make it quicker to switch the electrified rail on and off for planned maintenance and in response to faults.
The project follows similar improvements made to High Neck Tunnel in 2022. Passengers should check National Rail Enquiries or Merseyrail before travelling.
