Your weekly update, keeping you in touch with planned changes to Merseyside’s public transport and tunnels. This does not include diversions to buses that have been implemented due to roadworks or special events.
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Planned changes to bus services
6 October 2024
| Route | Changes | Timetable |
| Route 18 | Some early morning Monday to Friday journeys are re-routed into Liverpool city centre. After the stop on Muirhead Avenue, Queens Drive these journeys turn left onto Queens Drive, right onto Mill Bank continuing onto West Derby Road then following the regular route into Liverpool. Instead of serving the stop on Muirhead Avenue by Delamain Road, these journeys will stop on Queens Drive by Three Butt Lane and West Derby Road by Bankfield Road. Times are otherwise unchanged. | 18 |
| Route 487 | The 0704 journey from Birkenhead now departs at 0723 and operates to Little Neston, Royal Oak instead of Ness Gardens. | 487 |
PDF files for bus services across the Merseyside region are available to download from the Bus Timetables link below:
For further information on future changes the following links may prove useful:
Travel to and from school
For ways to travel to and from schools, including commercial services, please use our Journey Planner to find the right service for you.
For information on disruptions to bus services across Merseyside please visit the Travel Updates page.
Planned changes to rail services
City Line:
For information on any changes please check with the rail operator you are travelling with.
Merseyrail:
Northern line:
Saturday 5 to Monday 14 October
Southport Line
Rail replacement buses will operate between:
- Southport and Formby
Click here for more information.
Northern Line Route & Timetable Changes from Sunday 25 August 2024
As the roll out of the new fleet enters its final phase, customers will begin to see eight-car services on the Southport line.
This means, from Sunday 25 August, there will be some temporary changes to Northern line routes with train times slightly amended. These changes will ensure there is sufficient capacity to carry customers during the transition process.
Southport Line
Southport line services will start and terminate at Liverpool Central. The all-day 15-minute service between Liverpool Central and Southport will remain in place. Customers travelling on the Southport line between Southport and Hunts Cross should change trains at Liverpool Central.
Ormskirk Line
Ormskirk line services will call at all stations to Hunts Cross. Trains from Hunts Cross will call at all stations to Ormskirk. All services between Ormskirk and Hunts Cross will run at a 15 minute frequency during the day, and 30 minute frequency in the evening and all day on Sundays.
Planned Cancellations
Due to the timetable changes there have been changes made to the planned cancellations that allow testing and training for the new fleet of trains, you can find more information here.
Please note: Headbolt Lane line services will be unaffected.
Wirral line:
Amendments to the West Kirby and New Brighton lines
Following the introduction of the new Class 777 trains onto the Merseyrail network, further temporary timetable changes are being made to the West Kirby and New Brighton lines to assist with driver training.
Please see the following link for details of the latest changes from 19 August: Timetable changes to West Kirby and New Brighton lines
Timetable Changes on Chester & Ellesmere Port lines from Saturday 12 October
To help ensure Chester and Ellesmere Port lines remain punctual during autumn weather conditions, the annual autumn timetable will be introduced from Saturday 12 October.
This means that some services will depart earlier from some stations on the Chester and Ellesmere Port lines Monday to Saturday.
There will be no changes to Sunday timetables.
As part of this change, we are also reinstating the planned cancellations that have been in place on the West Kirby and New Brighton lines whilst testing and training of our new fleet was carried out.
Customers can check their new train times by using the journey planner on the link below.
The new PDF timetable is available here.
For further details, and information regarding any additional changes, please visit the Merseyrail website.
Planned Mersey Tunnels Closures
From Friday 26th July 2024, the Queensway (Birkenhead) Tunnel will re-open on Friday and Saturday nights only, as the £11m lighting upgrade approaches its final stages.
Queensway Tunnel will continue to be closed each night (except Friday and Saturday) between 9pm and 6:30am while the upgrade continues.
This is part of an ongoing investment and modernisation programme to futureproof the Mersey Tunnels as a key part of the city region transport network and a vital a cross-river travel option.During the closure, cross river bus services will be diverted and passengers are advised to check directly with their operator for any changes to their journey and to plan ahead.
Cyclists looking to use the Queensway Tunnel during the planned night time closures can still do so, however, this is under a Police escort only. Cyclists must report to the Police Information points at either end of the Tunnel, Old Haymarket or Kings Square, and call the Police Help Point or call 0300 3000 999. Mersey Tunnels Police will arrange safe passage through the tunnel during the closure for essential travel - i.e. travel to and from work. Entry may be refused at certain times for safety reasons.
Cyclists must not enter the tunnel without the Police escort for safety management reasons.
The above information is currently correct but closures may be subject to change.
For more information about upcoming planned closures: