Commuters and tourists are being urged to seek alternative routes into Liverpool after major disruption means no trains are running into or out of Lime Street Station – and the situation is likely to last until next Thursday.
A wall collapsing between Lime Street and Edge Hill caused the problems on Tuesday evening and Network Rail has indicated that the line may now not re-open until March 9th.
A spokesman said: “A section of trackside wall, loaded with concrete and cabins by a third party, collapsed sending rubble across all four lines and taking overhead wires with it.
“Early indications suggest train services will not resume for several days while extensive clear-up and repairs take place to make the location safe.”
Passengers are still arriving at Lime Street Station on foot, where staff are on hand to assist with alternative travel arrangements.
Twitter: BBC North West Tonight
Pictures show the 40 tonnes of rubble on rail tracks near Liverpool Lime Street, causing huge rail disruption set to last several days pic.twitter.com/6MyT4QrMdh
— North West Tonight (@BBCNWT) March 1, 2017
Harry Baines, 29, of Manchester, told JMU Journalism: “We weren’t aware that the trains had stopped running, so we came to the station anyway. I suppose these things do happen so the train lines can’t be to blame. It is still a pain though, especially for us travelling with young children. It’s a massive inconvenience.”
Northern Rail said a limited service is now running on trains between Manchester and some Liverpool stations, including Huyton and Liverpool South Parkway.
Services between Liverpool and London will start and terminate at Runcorn with rail replacement buses between the town and the city centre, a statement from Virgin Trains said.
People travelling to and from the city centre are being advised to use the Merseyrail Northern line between Central Station and Liverpool South Parkway, where they can join connecting trains.
Merseyrail is not directly affected by the incident but is currently running no services through Lime Street because of track renewal work on its Wirral loop line.