WIRRAL line passengers will be able to travel across to Liverpool by train on weekdays from a week on Monday when phase two of the loop line track renewal begins.

Work to replace the concrete base on the loop is on schedule so trains will be able to start and terminate at James St station from Monday to Friday.

At the weekend trains will start and terminate at Birkenhead North and Birkenhead Central with rail replacement buses running between Birkenhead and Liverpool stations.

Passengers are being advised that there will only be one platform available at James St station during the first week of phase two.

There will continue to be a number of options for people travelling across the river at weekends such as rail replacement buses, existing cross-river bus services and Mersey Ferries.

Managing director at Merseyrail, Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde said: “I hope passengers will welcome the fact that during this longer, middle phase of work, it will be possible to get a train directly to and from the centre of Liverpool, and experience from phase one shows that customers used their nous and adapted quickly to the changes.

“We do recognise that phase two will take a bit of getting used to, and rest assured we will have plenty of staff on-hand to help and guide people, with particular focus on James Street station.”

Interim chief executive of Merseytravel Frank Rogers said: “The first phase of the track renewal work has gone successfully both from a works perspective, with Network Rail on course in a challenging and intensive project, and in terms of the way passengers have adapted brilliantly and graciously to making their journeys in different ways, helping keep the City Region moving.

“We thank them for their patience so far and hope they continue to bear with us as we start the next phase of the works.”

13 - 17 February - Only one platform, Platform 2, will be available, at James St Station:

• At busy times, there are likely to be long queues at James St, but we will endeavour to keep these moving as quickly as possible.

• Assisted Travel: All Wirral line trains will start and terminate at James Street Platform 2, which can only be accessed by stairs. If you require assisted travel, please contact Merseyrail’s Customer Relations Team to arrange alternative cross-river transport and to ensure staff are at either end of your journey to help.

• Bikes: because of the limited platform space at James St, we will not be able to accept bikes in the morning and evening peaks between Hamilton Square and James St. Passenger with bikes are being asked to use the bike bus and Mersey Ferries to cross the river at these times.

• New Brighton & West Kirby lines: To prevent overcrowding at James Street station while only one platform is available, passengers travelling to Liverpool from New Brighton or West Kirby will have to change trains at Hamilton Square between 4pm and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

20 February - 29 May - Both Platform 1 and Platform 2 will be in use at James St Station: 

• Assisted Travel: New Brighton and West Kirby services will start and terminate at James Street Platform 1, which has both lift and escalator access. Chester and Ellesmere Port services will stop at Platform 2 which can only be accessed by stairs. If you travel on Chester or Ellesmere Port services and you struggle to use stairs unaided, please change at Hamilton Square on to a West Kirby or New Brighton service to James Street.

• Bikes: the limited platform space at James St, platform 1 means that we will not be able to accept bikes in the morning and evening peaks between Hamilton Square and James St on this platform. All cyclists travelling from New Brighton or West Kirby are advised to change at Hamilton Square. The best option for those travelling with a bike is the Mersey Ferry or the bike-bus, which operates during the peaks in the week and at the weekends.

All Phases 2: 13 February - 29 May

• Trains will run every 30 minutes on the New Brighton and West Kirby lines.

• Except for the Grand National Festival, Easter and the May Day Bank Holidays, there will be no cross-river rail services at weekends, with trains starting and terminating at Birkenhead North and Birkenhead Central and rail replacement buses running between Birkenhead and Liverpool stations.

• Trains will not run around the city centre ‘loop’. Valid rail tickets will continue to be accepted on the 10A bus service to help people get around Liverpool city centre.