RMT-organised industrial action is set to cause huge disruption at a time when hundreds of thousands of golf fans are heading to the region
Strike action is set to affect Merseyrail services this weekend(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Merseyrail is warning that rail services could be seriously affected by strike action in the coming days, causing disruption on the network as hundreds of thousands of people flood into the region for The Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
If strike action goes ahead, then this weekend will see no Merseyrail services operating on any part of the network apart from those serving the golf tournament.
An ongoing dispute between the rail operator and the RMT union means strike action is set to take place between Saturday July 18 and Monday July 20 – with two of those days falling when the nation’s biggest golf event is held in the region.
The strike action is due after the union raised a dispute over the operator’s 2026 pay award. It involves RMT-represented station retailers, station assistants, train managers, revenue protection officers, control centre staff, cleaners and some head office employees.
While strike action has been called, union members are currently voting on a revised pay offer from Merseyrail, with the ballot due to close at midday on Friday July 17.
Following the rejection of an initial 4% pay increase for 2026, Merseyrail says it tabled an improved offer worth 7.25% over two years, backdated to January 2026, which is now being considered by union members.
The outcome of the ballot will determine whether industrial action takes place.
If strike action goes ahead, Merseyrail will only be able to operate a very limited train service.
As The Open is taking place at Royal Birkdale and large numbers of visitors are expected to travel by rail, services on the Saturday and Sunday strike days will be prioritised to support the event.
Merseyrail says that on Saturday and Sunday, a 15-minute service will operate on the Southport line only, meaning fans will still be able to get to and from Royal Birkdale. Services will call at: Liverpool Central, Blundellsands and Crosby, Hillside (for Royal Birkdale) and Southport.
The 154th Open is taking place at Royal Birkdale(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Trains will run between 9am and 9pm, with a break in service during the middle of the day.
But at this same time no services will operate anywhere else on the Merseyrail network.
On Monday July 20, Merseyrail plans to operate a limited service across the network. Services will run from 10am until approximately 7pm, with a break during the middle of the day. Full timetable information will be published on the Merseyrail website and through the journey planner.
Neil Grabham, Managing Director of Merseyrail said: “While strike action has been called, our hope is that RMT members will support the revised offer currently being considered and that disruption to our customers and the wider Liverpool City Region can be avoided.
“The Open Championship is one of the most important events in the region’s calendar, attracting tens of thousands of visitors and generating significant benefits for local businesses, communities and the tourism economy.”
He continued: “Our teams are working hard to put contingency plans in place and, given the exceptional importance of The Open, we will prioritise a limited service between Liverpool and Southport to help spectators travel to and from Royal Birkdale. However, there will be significant disruption, and no services will operate across large parts of our network.”
“We have made an improved pay offer worth 7.25% over two years, backdated to January 2026, and remain committed to working with the unions to reach a resolution. With members currently voting on that offer, I very much hope we can avoid disruption and continue to provide the service our customers expect during such an important weekend for the city region.”
The ECHO previously reported on emails to RMT-represented staff, in which it was said that the union wanted use members’ endorsement of strike action “to send a message to Merseyrail to take this situation seriously.” An RMT spokesperson said: “Our members have voted for strike action in a row over pay and we continue to seek a negotiated settlement.”