Autumn railway upgrades on Merseyrail
We are strengthening and waterproofing a series of underground tunnels that bring trains from the south of Liverpool into the heart of the city centre
What work is taking place?
During a 26-day closure – from Sunday 11 October to Friday 6 November 2026 – we are investing £3.5m to waterproof and strengthen four tunnels which bring Northern line trains into Liverpool city centre from the south.
This will improve journey reliability for passengers by preventing water from entering the underground network, which can cause problems with the third rail electricity supply to trains.
To make the most of the same railway closure, we will also be continuing with our ongoing modernisation of power control systems – to make it quicker and easier to turn on and off the electrified rail in future when we need to carry out scheduled maintenance or fix unexpected faults.
The scale and complexity of the projects mean we must partially close the Northern line between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central for just under four weeks.
When is the work taking place?
We will start work on Sunday 11 October. The works will take just under four weeks. Normal train service will resume on Merseyrail’s Northern line on Saturday 7 November.
How will this work affect me?
To carry out these works we will partially close the Northern line between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central for four weeks, from Sunday 11 October to Friday 6 November.
On Sundays during this period, the closure will extend to Sandhills station on the Northern line and parts of the Wirral line.
Collaborating closely with our partners at Merseyrail and Merseytravel, we have been working together to ensure disruption for passengers is minimised as much as possible, with alternative travel options for those impacted over the extended 26-day closure:
- From Monday to Saturday, replacement buses will run from Hunts Cross to Moorfields, and amended train services will run from Southport, Ormskirk, and Headbolt Lane to Liverpool Central.
- On Sundays, replacement buses will run from Hunts Cross to Sandhills. Amended train services will run from Southport, Ormskirk, and Headbolt Lane to Sandhills.
- On Sunday 11 and 18 October, amended train services will run from West Kirby, New Brighton, Chester, and Ellesmere Port to James Street. Wirral line services will not stop at Moorfields, Lime Street, and Liverpool Central.
- On Sunday 25 October and 1 November, amended train services will run from New Brighton and West Kirby to Birkenhead North, and from Chester and Ellesmere Port to Rock Ferry. Replacement buses will run from Birkenhead North and Rock Ferry to Moorfields.
Why is the work needed?
These tunnels bring services from the south of the city and the city centre, via Liverpool Central – one of the most used stations in the country. The station had over 14 million entries and exits in 2024/2025.
These engineering works will keep the tunnels safe and reliable for passengers by preventing water ingress that could cause disruption in the future.
By carrying out this work during a scheduled closure, we are managing disruption in a controlled way – avoiding the risk of emergency or unplanned closures that would cause greater disruption at short notice.
This upgrade follows similar improvements made in 2022 to High Neck Tunnel, another tunnel on the Northern Line’s southern approach to Liverpool Central station.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or need assistance with a specific issue, please contact Network Rail’s helpline on 0345 711 4141 or online at networkrail.co.uk/communities/contact-us.
Our community relations team will log your request with the project team, and we will be in touch as soon as possible.
We’ve also introduced a new, digital lineside notification service, which can keep you informed of railway work happening nearby. To sign up, visit networkrail.co.uk/sign-up.