http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/travel-updates/Pages/Wirral-Loop-Line-Track-Renewal.aspx

A bit of an update from the council on the planned maintenance work on Merseyrail. Hilarious looking at replacement buses - at least every 15 minutes. At peak times on line from Chester/Ellesmere Port there is a train every 6 - 7 minutes - each with maybe 300 - 400 on. ! bus every 15 minutes will not work!

Well it worked for the commonwealth games so it must be ok (all day at your leisure)
As for the ferries well they seem to of died now so if you are a cyclist your shafted .

Seperate to all this are the Southern rail strikes over guardless trains which Mersey rail are pushing for.

Only a public outcry is going to effect this.

Considering the ferries have been off for the last 4 days, and have been off several times this year, your only option will be the Tunnel buses or the replacement rail buses, or travelling by car, all of which will add to the congestion already suffered at peak times in the tunnels

Dave

The work is being done by Network rail because rail track - like roads - wears out and needs replacing and upgrading. The investment is actually a good news story! As for the replacement bus service, it's inevitable that there will be disruption and delays although Merseytravel who are responsible for organising it, not the Council,say that at peak times the buses to Liverpool will leave as soon as they are full. What would really cause chaos would be everyone getting in a car and trying to get through the tunnel (and then drive around Liverpool looking for somewhere to park).

The new timetables mention express coaches during closures.
Does that mean people getting on at say Birkenhead North will be driven straight to Liverpool or will all Express coaches visit every Wirral Station on it's journey?

HI Bob - completely agree - I just have real concerns about the measures (!!) being put in place to cope wit the rail users.....

Will also see a lot of people heading for where the buses start their journeys so as to get a seat.

Actually after thinking about it, it seriously needs to go all wrong for lots and lots of liverpool businesses. Only then will the rail bosses listen.

Don't take your car, can't take your bike. We already had someone's experience of not being able to get a taxi, a couple of weeks ago.
Sounds like a perfect recipe for complete mayhem and tempers getting out of control.
Why can't the ferries put another boat on ( if they still have two) to sail from Woodside, or at least extend the commuter service to Woodside as it used to be. After all they complain about being short of cash. Surely it would be a perfect opportunity to make a bit of money ?

Does anyone know what's up with the ferries? Mersey Ferries are only saying "technical problems" but I'm suspicious. They've got a spare one berthed at Birkenhead docks - surely they can't both be out of service?

1 is mothballed and not now fit for purpose the dazzle tat one is on scheduled maintenance so that leaves the third .
You know the one that ran aground in eastham locks and maybe damaged something that wasn't evident at the time . Bent prop shaft springs to mind . Either way it's not something neil scales would of liked to see .

I wonder how long the public will favour using this uneconomical service .

BBC News said this morning both working ferries are still out of service. Engine problems on one, other is having a refit or maintenance.

The replacement buses will still get caught up in the congestion at the tunnel entrances. Even though buses have their own lane at the toll barriers, the roads getting to the tunnel get snarled up.

High time they reduced this bottleneck by making them free.

The Royal Iris has been out of service until a week ago after that incident.

Gary Evans is quick to use this unreliability to justify getting rid of these traditional style ferries so that he can replace them with the junk (pun intended) that they have planned for the future.

I'm sure complete refits with modern engines would be cheaper, the traditional appearance of the ferries is very important for the tourist teade that they focus on so much.

The ferries had new engines fitted fairly recently (1980's I think). It wasn't easy, as they weren't designed with engine removal in mind. The top half of the boat had to be cut off to gain access to the engine room then welded back on afterwards.

Asked a respected river pilot this morning and he suspects the prop shaft as well / plus years of associated lack of maintenance and funding .
The daniel adamson could make a nice little cycle tourism venture here .