Rail passengers in the Liverpool City Region will be able to blow away the Christmas cobwebs as Merseyrail has announced that train services will be running on Boxing Day.

Trains will be running every day over the festive period, with the exception of Christmas Day.  As a result, people can head off to sporting events, including racing at Aintree, or they can hit the shops for the Boxing Day sales.

A normal timetable will be in place, except for Boxing Day.  Passengers should also bear in mind that, as has been the case for some years, services will end early on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.  Services will end from around 19:00 on both days, with trains reaching their final destinations by 21:30. On New Year’s Day a 30-minute interval Sunday service will run on all lines.

On Boxing Day, services will begin running at approximately 09:00 and with finish at around 18:30. A half-hourly service will run on all lines, though not all stations will be open.

On the Chester and Ellesmere Port lines, services will arrive and depart from Hooton only, calling at Bromborough, Bebington, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead Central, James Street and Liverpool Central.

On the West Kirby and New Brighton lines, services will call at Liverpool Central, James Street, Conway Park and Birkenhead North, with West Kirby services continuing to Leasowe and West Kirby and New Brighton services running non-stop to New Brighton.

Services to Southport, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane via Kirkby, services will call at Liverpool Central and Sandhills. Southport trains will continue to Bootle Oriel Road, Waterloo, Blundellsands and Crosby, Formby, Ainsdale, Birkdale and Southport.  Ormskirk trains will call at Kirkdale, Orrell Park, Aintree, Maghull and Ormskirk while Headbolt Lane trains will call at Kirkdale, Fazakerley, Kirkby and Headbolt Lane. Trains from Liverpool Central to Hunts Cross will only call at St Michaels and Liverpool South Parkway.

Passengers are advised to check the journey planner at merseyrail.org before starting their journey.

Suzanne Grant, Commercial Director at Merseyrail, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer Boxing Day services this Christmas, as people across the Liverpool City Region prepare to enjoy the festive season.

“Our stations and staff will also be getting into the Christmas spirit, helping to spread lots of Christmas cheer. So, if people are looking for inspiration for things to see and do on the lead up to Christmas, just have a look at the Christmas pages on the Merseyrail website at merseyrail.org/Christmas.  But do remember that as services are limited on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve they are likely to be busy. We would encourage customers to use the journey planner at merseyrail.org, before they make their festive plans.

Cllr Liam Robinson, Transport Portfolio Holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, added: “We’re really pleased that Merseyrail will be running services on Boxing Day once again this year. Whilst most of the rail network will be shut, we will be providing services that offer people the chance to travel to work and leisure opportunities, or simply to visit relatives at this special time of year.

“This shows the benefits that devolution can bring, allowing us to make decisions at a local level that benefit the people of our city region.”