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Grand National Travel Information & Strike Action Timetables

6-8th April 2017

This booklet explains what is happening and why, and how you will be affected.

On Thursday 6 & Friday 7 April, small timetable alterations will be made across Merseyrail’s Northern lines. This is to ensure an enhanced 7½ minute service can run between city centre and racecourse to accommodate the large number of race-goers travelling to the Grand National Festival.

On Saturday 8 April, unfortunately due to strike action by guard members of the RMT Union, a reduced train service will run across the Merseyrail network. However it will be possible to travel to Aintree by train and a 7½ minute service will run between Liverpool city centre and Aintree at key times, to carry the large number of race-goers travelling to Grand National Day.

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Every industry needs to modernise, The new trains won’t have traditional guards, so they otherwise its future is at risk. Urban will operate the same way as London Underground, railways like Merseyrail are no different. Manchester Metrolink, Tyne and Wear Metro and suburban and metro railways across south east and Glasgow; in many cases by RMT The Liverpool city region needs and deserves new members under union agreements. Here on Merseyrail, trains – they will be modern, faster and more reliable, we have put a “guarantee of continued employment” with the capacity to support economic growth. on the table, which would apply to all of our current Advanced technology on the new trains means they guards, with no loss of salary. will no longer require traditional guards. The elected politicians in understood this when they I am sorry that we will not be able to provide the authorised the new trains in December 2016 – satisfied normal service on Grand National Saturday, but the that they will be safer than the ones they replace. But RMT, on this day of all days, has decided to bring the RMT are objecting, and taking industrial action its guard members out on strike, to protest against the now, even though the new trains are not due to arrive new trains. On the last strike day, Merseyrail drivers until 2020. refused to cross RMT picket lines, so we have had to assume the same for this Grand National Saturday. When it comes to on board security on the new trains, as well as the revenue protection staff, security staff, We have tried to provide the best train service possible cleaning staff and enforcement officers that work on to and from Aintree with the resources we have board our trains today, there will be an additional available, and based on years of experience moving team of around 60 customer service staff. They will large crowds to and from the event. Please use the work on board without the distraction of operating the information in this leaflet to plan your journey carefully. doors every few minutes and will be deployed at key locations and times, based on passenger feedback. Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde Managing Director

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What are the We have promised that How will train How long will the strikes about? any member of staff who services be dispute with the is currently employed staffed today? RMT go on for? as a guard and wants Strike action relates to to stay at Merseyrail, the new fleet of trains will be guaranteed Over the last few months, It’s not possible to say coming into service during permanent employment we have been developing at this stage, and we will 2020, which will no longer in an alternative position, our contingency plans for continue working with require guards, but will on the same terms and industrial action. Some our union colleagues to see the creation of around conditions as now, subject managers have been resolve the dispute and sixty on board customer to successful negotiation trained to act as guards, bring an end to strikes. service positions. between Merseyrail and and they will work today. The RMT is not happy the relevant trade unions, Should drivers choose not with this move towards once the new trains are to cross picket lines, as modernisation. introduced. they did in the first strike on 13 March, a team of Ensuring passengers feel qualified, competent driver safe and secure continues managers will drive trains. to be the number one Can you run the priority, and these people current trains will work on-board the without guards? Will you be offering new trains, to assist and compensation to reassure passengers. That’s not possible on passengers? these trains, as they require guards to open and close doors. The new We have refund fleet will be DCO (driver- and compensation controlled operation) and arrangements for when not need guards. Drivers journeys are cancelled will be responsible or delayed and these for doors; customer will remain in place service staff will attend throughout strike action. to passenger safety For more details, speak to and security. a member of staff or visit merseyrail.org/refunds

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Thursday 6 & Travelling on the Northern Line To enable a 7½ minute service to run on Thursday Friday 7 April 6 and Friday 7 April, slight adjustments will be made to Northern line services: Travelling between Liverpool & Aintree Ormskirk to Old Roan – all services will depart Strike action will not affect the Merseyrail network on 2 minutes earlier than the usual timetable. Thursday 6 or Friday 7 April. A normal service will run across the network and a 7½ minute service will run Kirkby to Liverpool – between 11:13 and 13:13 between Liverpool city centre and Aintree station. all trains from Kirkby will terminate at Sandhills. Passengers are advised to change at Kirkdale Timetabled trains will run every 15 minutes calling at all for services to Liverpool. stations between Liverpool and Aintree. The additional trains that run to provide a 7½ minute service: Liverpool to Kirkby – between 11:35 and 13:35 all trains for Kirkby will start at Sandhills. Passengers are • Will run before and after race meetings. advised to board any train for at Liverpool Central or Moorfields and change onto services • Before the start of the races, additional trains to for Kirkby at Sandhills. Aintree will only call at Liverpool Central, Moorfields and Sandhills. Liverpool Central to Southport – the 17:13 from Liverpool Central to Southport will not run. • After the races, additional trains from Aintree will only call at Moorfields and Liverpool Central. Hunts Cross to Southport – from 08:51 until 13:51 services from Brunswick to Southport will leave stations 4 minutes later than the usual timetable.

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Travelling on the Wirral Line Strike Action Timetables: During the Grand National Festival, trains will run between Wirral stations and James Street station in Saturday 8 April Liverpool. On Saturday 8 April, a reduced service will run due to strike action, please see pages 16–19. On Saturday 8 April, unfortunately due to strike action by members of the RMT Union, a reduced train service Trains to Aintree arrive and depart from Liverpool will run across the Merseyrail network. However it Central and Moorfields stations in Liverpool city centre. will be possible to travel to Aintree by train and a 7½ Walking routes from James Street station are shown minute service will run between Liverpool city centre in the map below: and Aintree at key times, to carry the large number of race-goers travelling to Grand National Day.

Water Street - Moorfields • Trains from Liverpool to Aintree will start at 10:06 James Street - Moorfields and run until 13:36, calling at Liverpool Central, Moorfields and Aintree stations only. There will be no trains from Aintree to Liverpool city centre during this time. • Trains from Aintree to Liverpool will start at 16:34 and run until 20:57, calling at Aintree, Moorfields and Liverpool Central stations only. There will be no trains from Liverpool city centre to Aintree during this time. • No trains will run between Aintree and Ormskirk stations. A rail replacement bus will be in operation between Ormskirk and Old Roan, please see overleaf for details.

Water Street - Moorfields James Street - Moorfields

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This affects services on other Merseyrail lines for Merseyrail are committed to running the advertised which we apologise: timetable during the Grand National Festival, however we advise you check the Merseyrail • Train services will start at approximately 09:30 website or @merseyrail on Twitter before you travel. across the Merseyrail network. Please allow more time for your journey as the public • On the Southport line, during the morning trains transport network and all major roads will be busy. will only run from Southport towards Liverpool city If you cannot make your journey by train on Saturday centre. There will be no trains from Liverpool city 8 April, alternative travel information can be found centre to Southport. at merseytravel.gov.uk • During the evening trains will only run from Liverpool city centre towards Southport. There will be no trains from Southport to Liverpool city centre or Hunts Cross. PLEASE NOTE • There will be a break in service during the day. There will be no trains running on the Ellesmere Port, All trains, including those for Aintree, will stop New Brighton, Hunts Cross and Kirkby lines. at approximately 13:33 and resume at approximately 16:33. Trains will not call at the following stations: • Train services will end at approximately 21:30 Southport & Ormskirk Line Hunts Cross Line Aughton Aigburth Kirkdale Bank Hall Rail replacement buses - Ormskirk Oriel Road Old Roan Brunswick Ormskirk On Saturday 8 April, rail replacement buses will run Cressington Orrell Park between Ormskirk and Old Roan, calling at Maghull. Freshfield Sandhills Old Roan is a 20 minute walk from Aintree racecourse. Hall Road Town Green Hunts Cross Walton • Before the races, buses will run every 10 minutes Liverpool South Parkway from Ormskirk to Old Roan, calling at Maghull, Sandhills Chester Line between 10:30 and 14:00. St Michaels Bache • After the races, buses will run from Old Roan to Bromborough Rake Ormskirk, calling at Maghull, between 16:30 and West Kirby Line Capenhurst 20:00. Buses will fill up and go at busy times. Bidston Chester Birkenhead Park Eastham Rake Please buy your ticket from any staffed Merseyrail Conway Park station before you travel. Road

11 Timetables: Saturday 8 April 2017 Liverpool to Aintree Aintree to Liverpool 1845 2108 1843 2106 1834 2057 1838 2053 1218 1348 1836 2051 1209 1339 1206 1336 1827 2042 1830 2038 1211 1341 1828 2036 1201 1331 1158 1328 1819 2027 1823 2023 1203 1333 1821 2021 1154 1324 1151 1321 1812 2012 1815 2008 1156 1326 1813 2006 1146 1316 1143 1313 1804 1957 1808 1953 1148 1318 1806 1951 1139 1309 1136 1306 1757 1942 1800 1938 1141 1311 1758 1936 1131 1301 1128 1258 1749 1927 1753 1930 1133 1303 1751 1928 1124 1254 1121 1251 1742 1919 1745 1923 1118 1256 1743 1921 1109 1246 1106 1243 1734 1912 1730 1915 1103 1248 1728 1913 1054 1239 1051 1236 1719 1904 1715 1908 1048 1241 1713 1906 1039 1231 1036 1228 1704 1857 1700 1900 1033 1233 1658 1858 1024 1224 1021 1221 1649 1849 1645 1853 1018 1226 1643 1851 1009 1216 Times 1006 1213 Times 1634 1842 Liverpool Central Liverpool Central Aintree Aintree Moorfields Moorfields Moorfields Moorfields Trains to Aintree from Liverpool Central calling at Moorfields and stations only: Trains Station Liverpool Central Liverpool Central A 7½ minute service will run from Liverpool Central calling at Moorfields and Aintree from 11:21 until 13:36 as detailed above. to Liverpool Central from Aintree calling at Moorfields and stations only: Trains Station Aintree Aintree A 7½ minute service will run from Aintree calling at Moorfields and Liverpool Central from 17:34 until 19:27 as detailed above.

13 Timetables: Saturday 8 April 2017 Southport to Hunts Cross Hunts Cross to Southport via Liverpool via Liverpool

Trains will not call at the following stations: Trains will not call at the following stations:

Aigburth Hall Road Aigburth Hall Road Bank Hall Hunts Cross Bank Hall Hunts Cross Bootle Oriel Road Liverpool South Parkway Bootle Oriel Road Liverpool South Parkway Brunswick Sandhills Brunswick Sandhills Cressington St Michaels Cressington St Michaels Freshfield Freshfield 2045 1112 2047 2054 1116 2056 2058 1118 2101 2105 1121 2109 2114 1126 2117 2119 1130 2123 1134 1136 1139 1141 1148 1150 Times 2030 1057 2032 2039 1101 2041 2043 1103 2046 2050 1106 2054 2059 1111 2102 2104 1115 2108 1119 1121 1124 1126 1133 1135 Then Times 1042 1046 1048 1051 1056 1100 1104 1106 1109 1111 1118 1120 Then 1938 1940 1947 1949 1951 1954 1958 2002 2007 2010 2012 2016 1923 0952 1925 1932 0956 1934 1936 0958 1939 1943 1001 1947 1952 1006 1955 1957 1010 2001 1014 1016 1019 1021 1028 1030 Times 1908 0937 1910 1917 0941 1919 1921 0943 1924 1928 0946 1932 1937 0951 1940 1942 0955 1946 0959 1001 1004 1006 1013 1015 Times 0922 0926 0928 0931 0936 0940 0944 0946 0949 0951 0958 1000 Station Liverpool Central Moorfields Bootle New Strand Seaforth & Waterloo & Crosby Hightown Hillside Southport Southport Station Birkdale Hillside Ainsdale Formby Hightown Blundellsands & Crosby Waterloo Seaforth & Litherland Bootle New Strand Moorfields Liverpool Central

15 Timetables: Saturday 8 April 2017 West Kirby to Liverpool Liverpool to West Kirby

Trains will not call at the following stations: Trains will not call at the following stations:

Bidston Bidston Birkenhead Park Birkenhead Park Conway Park Conway Park Manor Road Manor Road 2127 2158 2124 2155 2118 2152 2114 2148 2112 2146 2109 2141 2106 2136 2103 2132 Last train Last train 57 28 54 25 48 22 44 18 42 16 39 11 36 06 33 02 27 58 24 55 18 52 14 48 12 46 09 41 06 36 03 32 Minutes past each hour Minutes past each hour 1657 1728 1654 1725 1648 1722 1644 1718 1642 1716 1639 1711 1636 1706 1633 1702 Then Then 1357 1428 1354 1425 1348 1422 1344 1418 1342 1416 1339 1411 1336 1406 1333 1402 Until Until 27 58 24 55 18 52 14 48 12 46 09 41 06 36 03 32 57 28 54 25 48 22 44 18 42 16 39 11 36 06 Minutes past each hour Minutes past each hour 33 02 1027 1058 1024 1055 1018 1052 1014 1048 1012 1046 1009 1041 1006 1036 First train First train 1003 1032 James Street Kirby West Hamilton Square Hoylake Birkenhead North Leasowe Moreton Moreton Leasowe Meols Birkenhead North Hoylake Hamilton Square Station Station West Kirby West James Street

17 Timetables: Saturday 8 April 2017 Chester to Liverpool Liverpool to Chester

Trains will not call at the following stations: Trains will not call at the following stations:

Bache Bache Bromborough Rake Bromborough Rake Capenhurst Capenhurst Chester Chester Eastham Rake Eastham Rake 2110 2141 2107 2136 2105 2133 2102 2131 2100 2129 2057 2127 2055 2124 2053 2122 2050 2120 2046 2116 Last train Last train 40 11 37 06 35 03 32 01 30 59 27 57 25 54 23 52 20 50 16 46 10 41 07 36 05 33 02 31 00 29 57 27 55 24 53 22 50 20 46 16 Minutes past each hour Minutes past each hour 1740 1711 1737 1706 1735 1703 1732 1701 1730 1659 1727 1657 1725 1654 1723 1652 1720 1650 1716 1646 Then Then 1440 1441 1437 1436 1435 1433 1432 1431 1430 1429 1427 1427 1425 1424 1423 1422 1420 1420 1416 1416 Until Until 10 41 07 36 05 33 02 31 30 29 27 27 25 24 23 22 20 20 16 16 40 11 37 06 35 03 32 01 00 59 57 57 55 54 53 52 50 50 Minutes past each hour Minutes past each hour 46 46 1040 1041 1037 1036 1035 1033 1032 1031 1030 1029 1027 1027 1025 1024 1023 1022 1020 1020 First train First train 1016 1016 James Street Hooton Hamilton Square Bromborough Birkenhead Central Spital Green Lane Sunlight Port Rock Ferry Bebington Bebington Rock Ferry Port Sunlight Port Green Lane Spital Birkenhead Central Bromborough Hamilton Square Station to James An additional service will run from Rock Ferry Street at 1000, arriving James 1010. Station Hooton James Street

19 Travel advice.

Merseyrail are committed to running the advertised timetable during the Grand National Festival, however we advise you check the Merseyrail website or @merseyrail on Twitter before you travel.

Please allow more time for your journey as the public transport network and all major roads will busy. If you cannot make your journey by train on Saturday 8 April, alternative travel information can be found at merseytravel.gov.uk

For live travel updates visit: merseyrail.org/strike @merseyrail on Twitter

Plan an alternative journey by bus: merseytravel.gov.uk/journeyplanner

Speak to the Merseyrail Customer Relations Team: Call 0151 555 1111 Open 07:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday Open 09:00 to 20:00 Saturday 8 April

Speak to Merseytravel: Call 0151 236 7676 Open 08:00 to 20:00 seven days a week.

Thank you for your patience.