WIRRAL rail commuters face disruption to journeys today as strike action takes place as part of an ongoing dispute over the planned introduction of driver-only trains.

A reduced service will be run, with trains running until 7pm as drivers and guards walk out for 24 hours. Some stations will be closed.

There are no trains running on Ellesmere Port, Hunts Cross and Kirkby lines.

The dispute relates to a new fleet of driver-only trains that will replace Merseyrail’s current 40-year-old rolling stock in 2020 which the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union say will threaten the security of guards jobs on trains.

  • West Kirby line trains will not call at: Bidston, Manor Road, Birkenhead Park, Conway Park, Moorfields, Lime Street Low Level and Liverpool Central stations.
  • New Brighton line trains will not call at: Moorfields, Lime Street Low Level and Liverpool Central stations.
  • Chester line trains will not call at: Bache, Bromborough Rake, Capenhurst, Chester, Eastham Rake, Moorfields, Lime Street Low Level and Liverpool Central stations.
  • Strike action has also been announced for Sunday July 23, the final day of The Open golf championship at Royal Birkdale. A revised train timetable will be released nearer the time.

Merseyrail drivers and guards walked out for 24 hours on Saturday.

Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, managing director at Merseyrail said: “The Merseyrail team has put together the best possible timetable that we can to provide a limited train service.

"I would urge all our customers to check before they travel.”

For today's full timetable information visit merseyrail.org/strike-action.aspx or follow on twitter @merseyrail for live travel updates.