Merseyrail Shuts Northern Line Section for Nearly Four Weeks in £3.5m Tunnel Project

Merseyrail has closed part of its Northern Line for almost four weeks to waterproof Victorian tunnels in a £3.5m project, with work scheduled to finish on 6 November and services resuming on 7 November. The BBC reported that the work aims to prevent water from damaging the electrified third rail and causing power failures.

Inside the St James Tunnel Waterproofing

Inside St James Tunnel, south of Liverpool Central, engineers are drilling into the curved brick roof before injecting resin into the structure to create a waterproof barrier. The aim is to stop water seeping through the Victorian brickwork and dripping on to the railway below.

Helen Little, from Network Rail, said: "These tunnels are over 100 years old, so over time they will naturally deteriorate." She said there were numerous wet patches inside the tunnel and the waterproofing would divert water down the side walls, rather than allowing it to fall on to the tracks.

Merseyrail trains are powered by an electrified third rail running alongside the tracks, and Network Rail said water reaching it could trigger faults and power failures. "Keeping the water from the rail stops the deterioration of the third rail and also stops faults," Little said. She said losing power through the rail could prevent trains from running.

The waterproofing work forms part of wider improvements to four Victorian-built tunnels serving the Northern Line. Engineers are also installing new electrical equipment that will allow smaller sections of the railway to be shut down when faults occur, rather than larger parts of the network. Merseyrail said that should make repairs quicker and help reduce disruption for passengers in the future. The electrical work is also affecting parts of the Wirral Line on Sundays.

Earlier Disruption and Tunnel Upgrade Plans

On 16 October 2026, Merseyrail services were disrupted on multiple lines in the evening, including a welfare incident at Bootle Oriel Road affecting the Northern line until 6:45pm and a broken-down train on the Southport line, according to EIN Presswire.

On 9 October 2026, Yahoo reported that Merseyrail would begin upgrading four Victorian tunnels on the Northern Line from 11 October, with work lasting 26 days. The £3.5m project aims to reduce power failure risks and improve reliability.

On 1 October 2026, Yahoo reported that councillors urged Merseyrail to reverse its ban on non-folding e-bikes, with cross-party support. The ban, citing fire risks from lithium-ion batteries, is due to take effect in January.

What Happens After 6 November

The work began on 11 October and is scheduled to finish on 6 November, with normal services expected to resume on Saturday 7 November. Passengers are being advised to check their journeys before travelling.