Merseyrail closure brings replacement buses to Liverpool 2026

Key Points

• The Merseyrail Northern Line, which runs between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central, will be closed from Sunday 11 October until Friday 6 November 2026.
• Train services will start again as normal on Saturday 7 November.
• Replacement bus services will run from Hunts Cross to Moorfields on Monday to Saturday days.
• However, replacement bus services will run from Hunts Cross to Sandhills on Sundays.
• There will be no replacement bus stop at Liverpool Central during the Monday to Saturday service schedule.
• This closure will impact the stations including Hunts Cross, Liverpool South Parkway, Cressington, Aigburth, St Michael’s, Brunswick and Moorfields.
• Network Rail plans to invest £3.5 million in waterproofing and reinforcing four tunnels leading into Liverpool city centre.
• The work will help prevent water entering the tunnel system, which may cause any problems in the third rail electrification of the railway.
• Modernisation of control of power supply systems during maintenance and unexpected breakdowns will also be done.
• There will be adjusted train services on some parts of the Northern Line and Wirral Line.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 7, 2026 – The Merseyrail Hunts Cross line closure will begin on Sunday 11 October, with trains suspended between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central for almost four weeks while engineers carry out tunnel-upgrade work.

The closure will affect passengers travelling from the south of Liverpool towards the city centre. According to Network Rail, work will continue until Friday 6 November, with normal Northern Line services scheduled to return on Saturday 7 November.

The planned closure forms part of a £3.5 million programme to waterproof and strengthen four underground tunnels used by Northern Line trains. Network Rail said the investment would help prevent water entering the railway infrastructure, where it can cause problems with the third-rail electricity supply that powers trains.

During the same closure, engineers will also continue modernising power-control systems. The upgraded systems are intended to make it faster and easier to switch the electrified railway on and off during planned maintenance or when faults occur.

Which Merseyrail stations will be affected?

The principal disruption will affect the route between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central. The affected stations include:

• Hunts Cross.
• Liverpool South Parkway.
• Cressington.
• Aigburth.
• St Michaels.
• Brunswick.
• Moorfields.

Liverpool Central is also located on the affected route, but the replacement buses will not stop there during the standard Monday-to-Saturday arrangement. Passengers travelling to Liverpool city centre will need to follow the amended train and bus arrangements instead.

The Liverpool Echo reported that Merseyrail’s replacement buses will serve stations without rail services and operate as closely as possible to the usual train timetable. However, replacement buses may take longer than trains, so passengers have been advised to allow extra time and check their journeys through Merseyrail’s website or app.

When will replacement buses run?

From Monday to Saturday, replacement buses will operate between Hunts Cross and Moorfields. National Rail stated that the buses will not call at Liverpool Central.

Amended train services will continue between Liverpool Central or Sandhills and Southport, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane. This means some Northern Line trains will still operate, but passengers will need to use the revised routes and timetables depending on their starting point and destination.

On Sundays, the arrangement will change. Replacement buses will run between Hunts Cross and Sandhills, while amended Northern Line trains from Southport, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane will terminate at Sandhills rather than Liverpool Central.

The Sunday changes are required because the closure will extend further north on the Northern Line and will also affect parts of the Wirral Line.

What will happen on October 11 and 18?

On Sunday 11 October and Sunday 18 October, all Northern Line trains will terminate at Sandhills. No Northern Line trains will run to Hunts Cross, with buses operating between Hunts Cross and Sandhills.

Wirral Line services will also be amended on those dates. Trains from West Kirby, New Brighton, Chester and Ellesmere Port will run only as far as James Street.

Merseyrail services will not stop at Moorfields, Liverpool Lime Street or Liverpool Central during this Sunday arrangement, according to Network Rail’s description of the planned works.

Passengers using the Wirral Line on either of those Sundays will therefore need to check whether their usual destination remains accessible by train or whether they must change at James Street.

What will happen on October 25 and November 1?

The disruption will be more extensive on Sunday 25 October and Sunday 1 November.

On both dates, Northern Line trains will terminate at Sandhills and no trains will run to Hunts Cross. Replacement buses will operate between Hunts Cross and Sandhills.

Additional changes will affect Wirral Line services:

• North Wirral trains will run only as far as Birkenhead North.
• South Wirral trains will run only as far as Rock Ferry.
• Replacement buses will run between Birkenhead North and Hamilton Square.
• Replacement buses will also run between Rock Ferry and Hamilton Square.

National Rail also stated that Chester station will be blocked until 08:05 on Sunday 1 November. The first train will be replaced by a bus to Moorfields.

Network Rail said that on these Sundays, amended services from New Brighton and West Kirby would operate to Birkenhead North, while trains from Chester and Ellesmere Port would run to Rock Ferry. Replacement buses would connect the affected stations with Moorfields.

Will passengers be able to use their existing tickets?

Passengers with valid Merseyrail tickets will be able to use the rail-replacement bus services, according to information reported by the Liverpool Echo.

Passengers using Merseyrail’s Tap & Go system should tap in and out at a station validator. The Liverpool Echo reported that anyone who forgets to tap out can register the missing tap through MetroSmart to help avoid an incomplete-journey charge.

Passengers should check station signage for the exact location of replacement-bus stops because the bus stop may not be directly outside the railway station. National Rail has also advised passengers to check its station information and journey-planning services before travelling.

Replacement vehicles could be busier than normal, particularly during peak periods and at major events. National Rail has advised passengers to allow extra time.

Why is the Hunts Cross line closing?

The closure is needed to allow engineers to work safely inside four underground tunnels on the southern approach to Liverpool city centre.

Network Rail said the tunnels will be waterproofed and strengthened to reduce the risk of water entering the railway. Water ingress can affect the third-rail electricity system and potentially lead to service disruption.

The work is being carried out during a planned closure rather than through a series of emergency interventions. Network Rail said completing the work in a controlled programme would help reduce the risk of unplanned closures in the future.

The tunnels carry trains from the south of Liverpool into the city centre through Liverpool Central. Network Rail described Liverpool Central as one of the country’s most heavily used stations, recording more than 14 million entries and exits during 2024/25.

The tunnel project follows similar improvement work completed at High Neck Tunnel in 2022.

How could the work improve future journeys?

The immediate effect will be disruption for passengers using the Hunts Cross section of the Northern Line. The longer-term purpose is to improve the resilience of the infrastructure.

By reducing water penetration and strengthening the tunnels, the project is intended to lower the likelihood of faults affecting the third-rail power supply. The modernisation of the power-control system should also make it easier for railway staff to isolate sections of electrified track during planned work or unexpected incidents.

Network Rail has described the improvements as a way of protecting reliability rather than simply replacing existing infrastructure.

What should passengers do before travelling?

Passengers affected by the closure should check the timetable for the specific date of travel because Monday-to-Saturday arrangements will differ from the Sunday pattern.

The main points are:

• Use replacement buses between Hunts Cross and Moorfields from Monday to Saturday.
• Use replacement buses between Hunts Cross and Sandhills on Sundays.
• Do not expect a replacement-bus stop at Liverpool Central during the Monday-to-Saturday arrangement.
• Allow extra time because buses may take longer than trains.
• Check the Merseyrail website, app or National Rail Journey Planner before leaving.
• Follow station signs for the location of replacement-bus pick-up and drop-off points.
• Check accessibility and bicycle arrangements before using a replacement service.

National Rail said passengers should check before travelling because the engineering work will affect different sections of the network on different dates.

What is the background to the Merseyrail development?

The Merseyrail Northern Line serves destinations including Hunts Cross, Liverpool Central, Southport, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane. The line uses underground infrastructure to bring trains from the south of Liverpool into the city centre.

The current development is a 26-day engineering programme running from Sunday 11 October to Friday 6 November 2026. Network Rail is investing £3.5 million in waterproofing and strengthening four tunnels, while also carrying out power-control modernisation during the same closure.

The work means the Northern Line must be partially closed between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central. On Sundays, the closure will extend to Sandhills, with further restrictions affecting parts of the Wirral Line on selected dates.

The operator and transport authorities have arranged replacement buses and amended train services to maintain connections where possible. However, the revised arrangements mean that passengers will need to change their normal routes, particularly when travelling to Liverpool city-centre stations or using the network on Sundays.

How could the closure affect passengers?

The Merseyrail Hunts Cross line closure is likely to create longer and less predictable journeys for regular commuters, students, airport users and leisure travellers using stations south of Liverpool Central.

Passengers travelling on weekdays and Saturdays will generally need to replace part of their journey with a bus between Hunts Cross and Moorfields. Those travelling on Sundays will face a different arrangement, with buses running to Sandhills and more extensive changes on the Wirral Line.

The greatest effects are likely to be felt during peak travel periods, when replacement buses may become crowded and road traffic may add to journey times. Travellers connecting with work shifts, hospital appointments, flights or other time-sensitive commitments should plan an alternative journey and allow additional time.

The disruption is scheduled to end with normal Northern Line services returning on Saturday 7 November. The longer-term benefit expected by Network Rail is improved tunnel resilience, reduced risk from water-related faults and more efficient power isolation during future railway maintenance.

The exact effect on each passenger will depend on the station used, day of travel and final destination. Checking the latest journey information before departure will be particularly important during the four-week engineering programme.