Planned engineering work being undertaken by Network Rail on Saturday 2 March and Sunday 3 March, will mean rail replacement bus services will be running on Merseyrail’s Northern line on both days.

The crucial maintenance work is being carried out from Moorfields to Hall Road, meaning trains are unable to access this part of the network. This will affect Southport, Hunts Cross, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane lines.

Wirral line services will be unaffected.

Merseyrail Chief Commercial Officer & Deputy Managing Director, Suzanne Grant, said: “We apologise to customers for the disruption caused during this period of planned engineering work.

“We work hard with Network Rail to try and avoid scheduling engineering work when it will affect customers. Unfortunately, at times when vital maintenance must be carried out it is impossible to avoid some disruption.

“I’d like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding while this work is carried out.”

Full details of where rail replacement bus services will run from are as follows;

Saturday 2 March:

Southport and Hunts Cross lines

Trains will run between:

· Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central.

· Hall Road and Southport.

Rail replacement buses will run between:

· Brunswick and Hall Road via Moorfields calling at all stations except Liverpool Central.

· An express rail replacement bus service will run between Liverpool South Parkway and Hall Road, calling at Moorfields only, between 07:00 – 19:00.

Customers travelling on the Hunts Cross line towards Southport are advised to change at Brunswick for rail replacement buses to Hall Road where they can pick up a connecting train to Southport.

Ormskirk line

Trains will run between:

· Walton and Ormskirk.

Rail replacement buses will run between:

· Moorfields and Aintree calling at all stations.

Headbolt Lane line

Trains will run between:

· Rice Lane and Headbolt Lane.

Rail replacement buses will run between:

· Moorfields and Headbolt Lane calling at all stations.

Sunday 3 March:

Southport and Hunts Cross lines

Trains will run between:

· Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central.

· Hall Road and Southport.

Rail replacement buses will run between:

· Brunswick and Hall Road via Moorfields calling at all stations except Liverpool Central.

Ormskirk line

Trains will run between:

· Walton and Ormskirk.

Rail replacement buses will run between:

· Moorfields and Aintree calling at all stations.

Headbolt Lane line

Trains will run between:

· Rice Lane and Headbolt lane

Rail replacement buses will run between:

· Moorfields and Aintree - customers are advised to change at Rice Lane for Headbolt Lane line.

Rail replacement buses are unable to access the roads near Liverpool Central station, therefore buses will not call at Liverpool Central, and customers are advised to use Moorfields station. Customers should check their journeys before they travel by going to www.merseyrail.org/journey-planning/.

A normal service will be in operation on Monday 4 March.