Major UK train station to close THIS WEEKEND sparking Easter travel chaos as passengers urged to check their journey
A MAJOR train station used by thousands of passengers every day is set to close on Easter Sunday.
Anyone hoping to travel in the North West of England on April 20 should plan their journey well in advance.
Major changes to train services are expected due to railway upgrades in the Liverpool City Region.
There will be no overground services into Liverpool Lime Street station on Sunday, April 20.
Lines between Mossley Hill, Huyton and Lime Street will be closed all day.
The reason for these closures is that engineers will be replacing track switches and crossings, as well as carrying out proactive maintenance work to the electrical supply equipment.
The work will reportedly make the track more reliable for the 240 services that travel in and out of Lime Street station every day.
Last year, over 18 million people visited Lime Street station and in 2023-2024, it was named the third busiest station in the North West.
Paul Owen, Network Rail’s area director for Liverpool, said: “I understand that our work in Liverpool on Easter Sunday will inconvenience people, and I am sorry for that.
“The work will make services more reliable for our passengers and give the track and other infrastructure, such as overhead lines, a much-needed refresh for journeys into Lime Street station.”
“I urge passengers to check National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator to understand exactly what their journey into Liverpool will look like on Easter Sunday.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their patience as we work to deliver a better railway in the North West.”
Rachel Rahbarzare, Liverpool Lime Street station manager, said: “No overground services will be terminating at Liverpool Lime Street station on Easter Sunday, but the station building will be open for access to the Merseyrail Network and rail replacement buses.
“Our friendly team will be on hand to help you with any questions you may have about your journey, however, I’d advise you to check before you travel, as there will be changes to services on Easter Sunday.”
Other major travel disruptions are also expected.
No trains will run between London Euston and Milton Keynes from Saturday to Monday, with the former closed on these days.
Network Rail has organised the closure of the line between London Euston to Scotland.
Friday will operate with a reduced timetable making it even more crucial that travellers try to make their journeys ahead of the Bank Holiday.
The facilities at Euston will also receive a spruce with upgrades to the toilets and in-station navigation.
Critical work will also take place near Northampton over the Easter period as engineers finalise the connection of a new rail freight exchange.
Works will also take place in the North, impacting those in Salford, Liverpool and Cumbria.
Besides train passengers, motorists have been warned they could have to battle a “hat-trick” of nightmare Easter weekend delays as 6.2 million hit the road.
RAC experts have urged drivers to prepare for “severe” delays from Thursday to Bank Holiday Monday.
Inrix, a transport analytics company, estimated headache queues of more than an hour on the M25 from junction 7 for Gatwick to junction 16 for the M40 on Thursday.
Drivers have also been warned of hold ups on the M6 north of Chester and the M25 clockwise towards Godstone, Surrey.
Elsewhere, the A303 in Wiltshire and the M5 southbound from Bristol are also expected to face some backlog.
Meanwhile, Good Friday day-trippers could see jams lasting from 11am to 1pm.
On Monday, the worst traffic will be between 10am and 5pm, while it will be between 9am and 4pm on Good Friday.
Train operator information for travel into Liverpool on Easter Sunday
Avanti West Coast
No Avanti West Coast trains will run to / from Liverpool Lime Street.
Replacement bus services will run between Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street.
Transport for Wales
No Transport for Wales trains will run to / from Liverpool Lime Street.
Trains between Chester and Liverpool Lime Street will instead run between Chester and Liverpool South Parkway.
You can use Merseyrail trains between Liverpool South Parkway and Liverpool Central at no extra cost to complete your journey.
East Midlands Railway
An amended timetable will run on the Liverpool to Norwich route, with trains running to / from Manchester Piccadilly and Nottingham / Norwich. Rail replacement buses will operate between Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly to connect with the train service. You are advised to use alternative services between Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool.
Northern
No Northern trains will run to / from Liverpool Lime Street.
Trains between Manchester Oxford Road and Liverpool Lime Street will instead run a reduced service between Manchester Oxford Road and Hunts Cross.
Trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street via Earlestown, and also between Blackpool North and Liverpool Lime Street will start / terminate at Huyton.
Replacement bus services will run between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Lime Street, and between Huyton and Liverpool Lime Street.
TransPennine Express
No TransPennine Express trains will run to / from Liverpool Lime Street.
Trains between Cleethorpes and Liverpool Lime Street will instead run between Cleethorpes and Manchester Piccadilly. Replacement bus services will run between Manchester Victoria and Liverpool Lime Street.
Trains between Manchester Oxford Road and Liverpool Lime Street will instead run between Manchester Oxford Road and Warrington Central. Replacement bus services will run between Warrington Central and Liverpool Lime Street.
London North Western Railway
No London Northwestern Railway trains will run to / from Liverpool Lime Street.
Train services between Birmingham New Street and Liverpool Lime Street will run between Birmingham New Street and Liverpool South Parkway only.
You should use Merseyrail trains between Liverpool South Parkway and Liverpool Central to complete your journey. Liverpool Central is a short distance from Liverpool Lime Street.