Photos show long queues of commuters after cancellations on several lines this morning
Over 100 people waiting at Birkenhead North Station for rail replacement buses(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Hundreds are waiting for rail replacement buses this morning after a wave of cancellations on the Merseyrail Wirral line. Merseyrail announced this morning that services had been disrupted due to a track fault at James Street Station.
The incident is affecting all Wirral line trains. Services running around the loop line, which runs in a circle through Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Central, Moorfields and James Street, have been suspended. This includes the New Brighton, West Kirby, Ellesmere Port and Chester lines. All Wirral line services use the loop, which goes through James Street Station, to enter and exit Liverpool city centre.
At 8.13am, Merseyrail said on X that a rail replacement services was now up and running between Birkenhead North/Central to Moorfields.
As a result, there are large queues at Birkenhead North Station this morning. Photos taken by Wirral Local Democracy Reporter Ed Barnes shows a snaking line on Station Road. Ed said: “Easily over 100 people having to wait at Birkenhead North for rail replacement buses.”
He added that there are three buses operating the Chester and Ellesmere Port lines and three for the West Kirby and New Brighton lines.
There were queues on Station Road this morning(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Merseytravel said on X: “@merseyrail – a rail replacement service is now in operation between Birkenhead North/Central to Moorfields.
“Check before you travel and allow extra time for your journey where necessary.”
There is also disruption on the Northern line this morning. Merseyrail have warned that, due to a train fault, services on the Hunts Cross line face cancellations or alterations.
Sometimes, Merseyrail trains will run as semi-fast services to help restore a disrupted timetable.
This means that trains will run directly between two appointed stations, not stopping at stations in between.
In an update at 8.58am, Merseyrail said on X: “Services have now started to resume. They will be subject to alterations while we work to restore a normal timetable following the disruption.
“We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused this morning.”
You can follow live updates on the disruption here.
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