Merseyrail festive services hit by network rail industrial action

DUE to planned industrial action by Network Rail staff who are members of the RMT Union, Merseyrail has had to make changes to its timetables between the 24 December and 27 December 2022.

The train operator had planned to run a 30 minute service across the network on 26 December 2022, but this is no longer possible following the industrial action announced by the RMT.

This also means that the last trains on Christmas Eve will now finish earlier than originally planned. Final services will run at approximately 16:30 on 24 December 2022.

These changes to the planned service, will remain in place even if the industrial action is called off, as railway rostering arrangements mean that it will be impossible to reinstate services at short notice.

As is normally the case during industrial action, there will be no rail replacement buses in operation. Those needing to travel after 16.30 on the 24 December or at any point on 26 December 2022 are advised to make alternative travel arrangements.

As previously announced, there will be no train services on Christmas Day.

There will be a normal weekday service on 27 December 2022, with trains starting when the industrial action ends, at approximately 07:30. A limited rail replacement bus service will be in operation from the busiest Stations prior to 07.30.

As is usually the case on New Year's Eve, services will finish at approximately 20:00 and on New Year's Day a 30-minute Sunday service will run.

Passengers are advised to visit the Merseyrail website for full details or speak to a member of Station staff.

Further industrial action is planned for:- 3 January and 4 January, and 6 January and 7 January 2023. Details on what services Merseyrail will be providing on these dates will be published as soon as they are available.

StemCellScousers launch Anthony Nolan's "Click The Code Share The Code" Campaign

THE StemCellScousers have held a Christmas Raffles drawn at the Freshfield Pub, with the Mayor of Sefton Cllr Clare Carragher. The Christmas Raffles raised £415 for the Anthony Nolan StemCell Donor register Charity. In the raffle the group had a signed Jamie Carragher 2005 IstanbullL shirt, from the 23 foundation, along with a signed Everton 2022/23 Team Shirt.

If you are unaware of what the group does, they raise awareness and give information about what Stem Cell Transplants are and why their is a massive shortage of Stem Cell Donors within the UK. When they are not doing this, they also raise funds for:- Blood Cancer Charities, along with other related Blood Cancer charities, and the Royal Liverpool Hospital. Currently, StemCellScousers have now raised over £62,000 for Blood Cancer Charities and the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Now the StemCellScousers have also launched the Anthony Nolan's "Click The Code Share The Code" Campaign urging people to sign up to the StemCell Donor Register and to share the Code with family and friends. This is because The Anthony Nolan, sadly failed to find 1350 UK Blood Cancer patients their Life Saving Donor in 2021. Launching the app, Sefton's Mayor, Cllr Clare Carragher, also became the 1st to Click and Share on the night. To find out more and to register, please click on here.