Merseyrail - Liverpool and the North West

From the central hub of Liverpool Merseyrail operates three distinct lines taking passengers across and around this heavily populated region. The City Line serves the city of Liverpool itself and the adjoining areas as well as taking passengers to Preston, Blackpool and other destinations in Lancashire while the Northern Line takes passengers along the coast to Southport and inland to Ormskirk.

The third line is the Wirral Line which serves the Wirral peninsula and Birkenhead, as well as heading south as far as the historic city of Chester. The combined lines are well used by commuters and with many of the towns and cities on the route being places of interest also attract tourists, especially those looking for the culture of Liverpool and the popular seaside towns on the North West coast.

With a freshly refurbished selection of rolling stock and trains Merseyrail is committed to providing the best possible service in the region and operates a varied and regular timetable to a wide variety of destinations. Covering the suburbs as well as the major inner-city areas, this is a busy transport network in a busy region.

The Northern Line and Southport

The Northern Line operates from Hunts Cross and Liverpool South Parkway - from where there is a direct transfer to Liverpool John Lennon Airport - in the south of the region to the popular and historic seaside town of Southport in the north. Passing through Liverpool city centre it offers connections to both the Wirral and City lines. This part of the North West coast is a largely unsung area of quite wonderful beauty with fantastic beaches and glorious scenery, and is popular with holidaymakers looking for a classic English seaside break.

Southport is famous for its pier - the second longest in the UK and over 1200 yards in length - and is a lively and attractive town. Other famous towns on the route include Formby and Birkdale, both well known and popular seaside resorts with much to offer the visitor.

Birkenhead and The Wirral

The Wirral Line runs from Liverpool across the Wirral peninsula, an area regarded as one of the most attractive in the north west of England. Extending to the lovely resorts of New Brighton in the North and Kirkby on the West Coast, it also runs farther south to the historic city of Chester, one of the most interesting cities in the country.

Chester has a history that stretches back to the Roman era and beyond and is one of Cheshire’s most beautiful places to visit, making the Wirral Line a popular tourist route from Liverpool. Liverpool itself deserves a mention as one of the most impressive cities, and its rich maritime history is celebrated in a number of excellent museums.

The City Line - Crewe to Blackpool

Merseyrail’s City Line covers the region to the west of the city of Liverpool and stretches south as far as the great railway town of Crewe. This was once an industrial powerhouse and is among the most important places in the history of the UK railway network. At the north end of the line is Blackpool, arguably the most famous seaside town in the UK with its Pleasure Beach attraction and iconic Blackpool Tower, while Wigan, Warrington and Preston are other interesting stops on the City Line.

Cheap Deals on Merseyrail

The Merseyrail website - www.merseyrail.org - includes a simple to use online booking system and a great deal of information on destinations and events in the region. A journey planner and information service keeps customers updated with changes to the service and the timetable is up to date and comprehensive.

There are many discounts available and the network features special Soccer trains for match day use, while concessions and special offers are available at many times. Keep a look out for deals on events and attractions in the region for users of the Merseyrail service.