Yellow Weather Warning for Ice leads to later start for Merseyrail services this Tuesday

Cold weather mitigation plans have been implemented by Merseyrail ahead of an expected drop in temperatures from Monday 16 January.

Temperatures are expected to fall to -2C overnight and the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning across the North West of England, meaning preventative measures have been activated to deal with the potential for disruptive ice on the tracks.

Tracks on the 75-mile Merseyrail network will be treated overnight to protect them from ice build-up, while station staff will ensure that platforms and car parks are well gritted, so they are safe for passengers.

The plan also means that the first services of the day on each line will run without passengers. Ice on the third rail can cause trains to become stranded so some first trains of the day will run empty to ensure routes are cleared.

The following changes will be in place from the start of service;

Southport line: The first train of the day from Sandhills (05:59 to Southport) will be cancelled.

The first train of the day from Southport (05:37 to Hunts Cross) will only be in passenger service from Sandhills onwards.

The first service from Sandhills to Hunts Cross is unaffected.

Ormskirk line: First train of the day (05:49 to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled.

Chester and Ellesmere Port lines: The first train of the day from Hooton (05:39 to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled.

The first train of the day from Ellesmere Port (06:17 to Liverpool Central) will only be in passenger service from Hooton onwards.

The first train of the day from Chester (05:55 to Liverpool Central) will only be in passenger service from Hooton onwards.

New Brighton line: The first train of the day (05:53 to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled. The 06:16 Moorfields to New Brighton is cancelled.

West Kirby line: The first train of the day (05:51 to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled. The 06:51 Moorfields to West Kirby is cancelled.

Hunts Cross line: The first train of the day from Hunts Cross (06:01 to Southport) will only be in passenger service from Liverpool Central onwards.

Kirkby line: First train of the day (05:43 to Liverpool Central) will be cancelled.

Passengers should check before they travel by using the Merseyrail app, website (https://www.merseyrail.org/) or Twitter account (@merseyrail).

Zoe Hands, Chief Operating Officer at Merseyrail, said:

“Merseyrail and Network Rail teams will be out during the night, working hard to protect the network from the cold weather.

“Colleagues from Network Rail will be using a multipurpose vehicle (MPV), which distributes snow and ice treatment on the conductor rails to prevent ice from freezing to them.

“The MPV scrapes ice off the conductor rail head (the top of the conductor rail) and sprays the rails with hot liquid anti-icer that prevents ice sticking to the conductor rail head. We then use the first services to ensure the line is clear.

“Passengers should check for the latest updates before heading to the station.”

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