Merseyrail to offer extra Open train services – Liverpool Business News
Merseyrail to increase frequency of train services between Liverpool and Hoylake during Open Golf Championship – but other routes will see a temporary reduction. Tony McDonough reports
Rory McIlroy, winner of The Open at Royal Liverpool in 2014. Picture by David Cannon/R&A via Getty Images
This month sees the return of the Open Golf Championship to Royal Liverpool in Hoylake and Merseyrail will be providing increased train frequencies during the event.
It is the first time since 2014 that Open has been held at the Wirral course. That year Rory McIlroy won the Claret Jug by two strokes. And the Northern Ireland man will be back this year along with the world’s top golfers.
Around 250,000 golf fans are expected from all over the world for the event. The main four days of the tournament will take place from Thursday, July 20, to Sunday, July 23.
However, people will be flocking to the course for the whole of that week and Merseyrail will run a 10-minute service between Hoylake and Liverpool Central for five days at peak times from Wednesday, July 19, to Sunday, July 23.
The 10-minute service between Hoylake and Liverpool Central will be scheduled for the morning and late afternoon each day.
There will be no trains between West Kirby and Hoylake from approximately 7pm on the Wednesday until Tuesday, July 25.
This is due to walkways being placed over the rail tracks at Hoylake station for The Open participants to access practice grounds and the golf course. Pedestrian walkways over the tracks will provide level access to ensure spectators can exit the station safely.
These arrangements were in place the last time Royal Liverpool hosted The Open and have been proven to work successfully.
A rail replacement bus service will operate between West Kirby and Hoylake throughout this period. Manor Road station will close mid-afternoon each day from Wednesday, July 19 to Sunday, July 23. This is to ensure the special timetable can operate effectively.
To accommodate the extra trains needed to support the event, there will be a reduced timetable for passengers on the New Brighton and Ellesmere Port lines.
From Wednesday, July 19, to Saturday, July 22, there will be a 20-minute service between New Brighton and Liverpool Central, and a 30-minute service will be in operation between Ellesmere Port and Hooton.
On Sunday, July 23, there will be no New Brighton services, and a rail replacement bus service will operate. A 30-minute service will be in operation between Ellesmere Port and Hooton. Merseyrail will not be affected by any industrial action during this period.
Passengers should check before travelling by using the journey planner at merseyrail.org[3]
Jane English, acting managing director of Merseyrail, said: “Once again the city region is hosting a huge international event with thousands of people coming to the area to enjoy themselves.
“Merseyrail will ensure that we provide the best possible service for fans travelling to and from Royal Liverpool Golf Club, as well considering the need of our regular users.”