Passengers’ anger at Wirral Line rail disruption




THE CHAOS has begun for Wirral commuters after the weekend closure of the Merseyrail Loop Line.

The six-week shut down started on Good Friday to enable £3.4m of work to be completed on a track replacement project which started in 2005.

Merseyrail and Network Rail said they have timed the disruption to bridge several bank holidays and minimise inconvenience for passengers.

But travellers on the service slammed the decision to start the work over the Easter weekend.

And their anger was heightened when passengers discovered that initially trains were stopping at Birkenhead - and not travelling at least to James Street as expected.

The work now being carried out is the fifth and final stage of a five-year, £20m project that was held off last year to avoid damaging Capital of Culture events.

But mum-of-two Samantha Ridsdale, 32, of Town Lane, Bebington, said: “Journeys just take so much longer.

“It’s the worst time to do this kind of work, there’s so many people wanting to travel over the Bank Holiday weekend and take advantage of the days off. This just causes so many extra complications.”

Her views were echoed by Nick Boyle, 34, of Ellesmere Port, who said: “It’s an absolute pain.

“It takes about 15 to 20 minutes longer and it’s just stupid doing it over the Bank Holiday while there’s so many people out and about wanting to use public transport.

Tony Garrett, secretary of Wirral Transport Users Association, said: “It’s a great inconvenience to have this all over again.”

But a Network Rail spokeswoman said passengers had been kept fully informed of the changes.

She said: “We’ve done all we can to try and let everyone know in advance.”

All sections of the Loop line will now be closed until Tuesday, May 26.

THE WIRRAL NEWS

OMG!
They would soon be wining if there were an accident due to poor mainenace

Stop winging a buy a car

Having now to walk between James st and Moorfields to make my connection, I asked the ticket officer if the tickets were discounted as I was getting less stations than before - I was met with a blank look and a shrug......

Yer there should be a discount why work is carried out.. But if you get a ticket for James Street or ask for a ticket to Liverpool Central there all the same price no different look at your ticket it says Liverpool STNS so im not sure..

Oh ffs - it's an extra 15-20 mins, not that big a deal in the great scheme of things really, is it.

Gods I'm getting very intolerant lately - must be something in the water

i think if you go from this side to any station on the loop - you pay the same wherever you get off on the loop.

also - i can understand the disruption for people working in liverpool, but if you're off with your kids or whatever that woman was complaining about, just don't go to liverpool - spend your money this side of the water and contribute to Wirral's economy!

oh yeah, and J - stay away from the roof girl!

Exactly MissG! Failing that, get the bus! Same price, if not cheaper if you get a day ticket. Loads of room for your cumbersome pram and comfier seats.

You won't get me near the roof tonight bird, my nipples would drop off

And less risk of some scally kids throwing a brick at the window you're seated by

What more could you ask for

a person of no fixed abode who smells of rancid piss sitting behind me exhaling lager/cig breath down my neck?

I didn't think Stu got the bus or smoked

i laughed so much i think i peed a little

I'm SO going to pay for that tomorrow aren't I

nah - he'll never know unless he's sad enough to check every thread from tonight

Phew or someone TELLS him to check this thread

well if we post enough crap on this thread the comment will be pages in the past