Merseyrail will cancel its first services on all lines tomorrow morning due to persistently cold temperatures.
The operator said the first services will not run tomorrow (Saturday) because of the cold temperatures and a forecast for sleet and snow. Empty 'route-proving' trains will run before passenger services to ensure the network is safe to operate.
Those first services that now won't run had already been delayed because of continuing strike action by the Rail and Maritime Transport Workers union, which continues tomorrow.
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The strikes had meant the first services on the network would run from around 7.30am. This will now not happen, and with a reduced service, most lines will now not see first services run until 8.15am.
This is because the strike action will reduce Merseyrail services from every 15 minutes to 45 minutes. This is the case for trains on the Chester and Ellesmere Port, New Brighton, West Kirby, Southport, Ormskirk and Kirkby line but not on the Hunts Cross line when no trains whatsoever will run tomorrow.
Merseyrail staff are not on strike, but the operator is affected by the walk-out of Network Rail signalling and maintenance staff, so will again be running the reduced service as it did on Tuesday, Thursday and today (Friday).
All services will stop at around 6.30pm tomorrow. There will be no rail replacement buses on strike days and passengers are advised to make alternative travel arrangements.
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