COMMUTERS are being reminded of 'hassle-free' travel options to help them cross the Mersey at weekends during the Wirral loop line track renewal works.

With phase one due to come to an end on Sunday, February 12 alternative transport options have been put in place including express bus services running directly from Birkenhead Central and Birkenhead North to Moorfields and St George’s Hall.

People who would normally use loop services to get around Liverpool city centre can use their rail tickets on the 10A bus to travel around the ‘loop’.

A River Cruise Explorer ferry service runs at the weekends and tickets to just go over the water are available. Sailings depart from the Pier Head every hour between 10am and 4pm. The ferries are also an option for cyclists.

The Mersey Tunnels seem to be flowing freely at weekends apart from periods of match day traffic meaning that driving may be an option on Saturday and Sundays without creating congestion.

Customers are also being told that these services will continue to run at weekends on the run-up to the final works being completed on Sunday, June 18.

Phase two of the works is set to start on Monday, February 13 when all Wirral line trains will start and terminate at James Street station from Monday to Friday.

At weekends, services will start and terminate at Birkenhead North and Birkenhead Central with rail replacement buses taking passengers to and from Liverpool.

Merseytravel interim chief executive, Frank Rodgers said: “Our monitoring figures for the first few weeks show that they alternative transport services are running very well and are keeping people moving across the river in both directions both during the week and at weekends. We’d like to thank the people of the City Region for following the transport advice and helping to mitigate delay.

“The figures also show that traffic continues to flow freely through the tunnels in both directions at the weekends, meaning that taking the car could be an additional option on Saturdays and Sundays. We also expect this to be the case during phase two of the works.

“Transport providers will continue to work closely together throughout the programme to monitor and manage the transport network, ensuring that the Liverpool City Region is kept moving and people can continue with their work and leisure activities.”