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Merseyrail

Merseyrail runs trains around Merseyside and the Wirral. Here's our guide where they go and what their trains are like.

Who are Merseyrail?

Merseyrail is a fairly self-contained network of railways focused around the city of Liverpool. They link Merseyside and the Wirral to the city itself and provide connections to other rail lines to the rest of the country. They serve 68 stations (and manage 66 of them) and their fleet of trains is currently being renewed. When all of the new trains have been delivered, they’ll have 53 of them.

Merseyrail is a bit like a Metro-style service. It doesn’t offer any savings for booking in advance, and there’s usually just a single and a return fare.

If you’re travelling from further afield, be aware that Merseyrail doesn’t accept eTickets. This means that you’ll need to collect your tickets from the station if you’re travelling one on of their trains.

We’ve written a dedicated page about finding cheap train tickets to Liverpool if you’re coming from elsewhere in the country.

On board services

Luggage

You’ll find overhead luggage racks on all Merseyrail trains.

WIFI

New Merseyrail trains have free WiFi available. They’re being introduced in the coming year.

Bikes

You can bring non-folding bikes onto trains on the Merseyrail network without any time restrictions. There are two spaces per train and they’re available on a first-come, first-served basis. There’s more information in our dedicated guide to travelling with bikes.

Pets

Up to two dogs, cats or other small domestic animals can travel free.

Special Assistance

Most Merseyrail stations have booking office staff who’ll be able to provide assistance on a “turn up and go” basis. The exceptions are Overpool, Little Sutton, Bache and Capenhurst which are unstaffed. Ellesmere Port is also unstaffed after 14:00 each day. At these stations, you’ll need to use the Help Point. You can find out more about Passenger Assist on our dedicated page.

 

Standard Class

Merseyrail is currently replacing its life-expired fleet of trains with brand-new Stadler ‘Metro‘ trains. They each have four carriages and offer completely level boarding:

Seating is in a 2+2 layout and every seat has access to power sockets and USB ports. We actually took a trip on these trains on the very first day of service, and you can find out more about them here.

Can I upgrade to First Class?

Merseyrail doesn’t offer any First Class accommodation on its services.

Information about routes

  • Chester to Liverpool Central
  • Ellesmere Port to Liverpool Central
  • West Kirby to Liverpool Central
  • New Brighton to Liverpool Central
  • Kirkby to Liverpool Central
  • Ormskirk to Liverpool Central
  • Southport to Hunts Cross (via Liverpool Central).

Trains to Chester, Ellesmere Port, West Kirby and New Brighton are known as the Wirral Lines. They run in a loop around the City Centre, stopping at James Street, Moorfields, Lime Street, Liverpool Central and James Street again before returning to the suburbs. All trains usually start and finish at the same place (eg. Chester to Chester).

The Northern Lines are the lines to Southport, Ormskirk, Kirkby and Hunts Cross. They also serve Moorfields and Liverpool Central but on a different set of lines.

Fun Facts

The new Merseyrail trains are the first in Great Britain with completely level boarding. This means that you don’t have to worry about minding the gap when getting on and off.