STATIONS on the New Brighton and West Kirby lines are the next to see disruption and closures as part of Merseyrail‘s plans to upgrade platforms across the network.

Phase eight and nine of the huge programme of work involve both northern Wirral lines, with the West Kirby works taking place between April 7 and 22, and the New Brighton upgrades from April 27 until May 5.

The entire scheme of works are being carried out to prepare stations for new trains in 2020, with these phases the eighth and ninth of 11.

They will mean disruption and rail replacement buses for customers.

Here’s exactly how closures will affect the lines:

West Kirby line works – April 7-22

According to Merseyrail, platform upgrade works will hit stations between West Kirby and Birkenhead North.

That will mean rail replacement buses from April 7 until April 14, calling at all stations. Similarly, buses will run between West Kirby and Bidston/Birkenhead North from April 15 to 22.

The firm is keen to stress that trains will run from Birkenhead North onto the city centre loop throughout the works, and on April 23, a normal train service will run.

However due to the work on the line, there will be fewer trains than usual running from April 7-14 between Birkenhead North and Liverpool city centre.

Between April 15 and April 22, in addition to the rail replacement bus, there will be three trains per hour between Bidston and Liverpool – calling at all stations.

New Brighton line works – April 27- May 5

These platform upgrade works will see rail replacement buses running to all stations between New Brighton and Birkenhead North between April 27 and May 5.

A normal train service will resume from May 6.

Bikes (except folding bikes) cannot be taken on rail replacement buses, and prams and pushchairs must be folded.

Wayne Menzies, Merseytravel’s head of rail, said disruption to journeys would be “worth it in the end” for passengers, adding: “We’ve got to complete these works.

“It’s really important that passengers know what’s happening so they can plan ahead and if we work together we can keep everyone moving and the city region will remain open for business.

“The new trains will transform how we travel and this project is about making this happen so although there will be some disruption it will be worth it in the end.”

Further information and timetables can be found here: https://www.merseyrail.org/platform-upgrade-works.aspx