Special timetable for Open Golf.

[JBuchananGB]

Next week the Open Golf tournament is taking place at Royal Birkdale, to which the nearest MerseyRail station is Hillside.

MerseyRail will be running a 6tph service on the Southport line.

Normal mortals probably well advised to stay away.

One thing is puzzling me. Why are the "extra" trains shown in Real Time Trains as class 5, Empty Coaching Stock?

For example, On 16 July, 2T21 Southport to Hillside continues as 5T26 Hillside to Liverpool Central. In the opposite direction 2T20 Liverpool Central to Hillside continues as 5T25 Hillside to Southport.

These are advertised as passenger serviced,so why are they booked as ECS?

 

[Starmill]

It's so that if they didn't run, or a decision were taken to not run some or all of them at the last minute, they couldn't be counted as cancelled in the ORR stats accidentally. They'll probably be activated under different headcodes. They may not appear at all in the live times until the day.

 

[Tom]

It's so that if they didn't run, or a decision were taken to not run some or all of them at the last minute, they couldn't be counted as cancelled in the ORR stats accidentally.

That would be achieved by just running them as OU (Ordinary Unadvertised) and then marking with the Q operating characteristic.

They'll probably be activated under different headcodes. They may not appear at all in the live times until the day.

I have read this multiple times and I still don't really understand where you're going with this. Change of Identity isn't really a thing ever seen on TOC passenger workings. It's more likely a VSTP thing if that was to happen.

 

[jamesst]

Next week the Open Golf tournament is taking place at Royal Birkdale, to which the nearest MerseyRail station is Hillside.
MerseyRail will be running a 6tph service on the Southport line.
Normal mortals probably well advised to stay away.
One thing is puzzling me. Why are the "extra" trains shown in Real Time Trains as class 5, Empty Coaching Stock?
For example, On 16 July, 2T21 Southport to Hillside continues as 5T26 Hillside to Liverpool Central.
In the opposite direction 2T20 Liverpool Central to Hillside continues as 5T25 Hillside to Southport.
These are advertised as passenger service so why are they booked as ECS?

Because the extra services aren't passenger services all the way.

Using your example 2T21 Southport to Hillside will run passenger from Southport to Hillside. Itll then go out of passenger service at Hillside running ecs to Liverpool. At Liverpool it'll pick up passenger workings back to Hillside (as a 2Txx headcode) then run ecs from Hillside to Southport.

In effect its an overall 20min service with 'short' services slotted in between

 

[800002]

And it has the added bonus of allowing recovery when the inevitable delays occur getting it out of Liverpool.
Essentially, moving folk to the golf and only the golf before heading back into Central Liverpool to do it all again.

I suspect the same happens in the reverse in the afternoon / evening.
Passengers to the city, ECS back out to the golf.


*Edit.
Indeed.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...26-07-17/1800-2200?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

 

[Starmill]

That would be achieved by just running them as OU (Ordinary Unadvertised) and then marking with the Q operating characteristic.

That'd be a far less cack handed way of achieving it. However I can sort of see why they've chosen this one.

 

[Tom]

That'd be a far less cack handed way of achieving it. However I can sort of see why they've chosen this one.

Given what they're going for I don't think what you're suggesting is in the slightest bit related, to be honest. It looks like it's a way of just facilitating tidal flows to the golf.

 

[Kite159]

Just creates extra work for the staff in having to do ECS checks when they terminate at Hillside, although I guess running those extra services as ECS after Hillside means they can get diverted elsewhere (Sandhills reversing siding, Southport carriage sidings)

 

[JBuchananGB]

Great discussion. I understand better now. So the departure board at Southport will show alternating Hunts Cross & Hillside, so ordinary mortals won't board the golf special, something similar for northbound trains at Liverpool Central but with the Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane trains also in the mix.
I bet there'll be a few non golfers over-carried when they expect the golf special to call at places like Bootle.

 

[800002]

It'll be academic, mostly, anyway if the RMT strike Acton goes ahead.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Ah this explains why the Leeds-Wigan services are Leeds-Southport next week (and Rochdale-Southport on Saturday due to the Salford Central closure).

 

[gray1404]

Is there any way to find the amended timetable with the additional trains running semi fast between Formby and Liverpool. Also the amended timetable for the Chester line.

I'll be travelling between Formby and Chester. The Merseyrail website speaks of a 10 minute service at certain times of day and that there will be amendments to the Chester line timetable.

However I can't find these additional or amended trains on the Merseyrail website, the Merseyrail journey planner or BR Times.

 

[jamesst]

Is there any way to find the amended timetable with the additional trains running semi fast between Formby and Liverpool. Also the amended timetable for the Chester line.

I'll be travelling between Formby and Chester. The Merseyrail website speaks of a 10 minute service at certain times of day and that there will be amendments to the Chester line timetable.

However I can't find these additional or amended trains on the Merseyrail website, the Merseyrail journey planner or BR Times.

Its all up on real train times, just type in the date you want to travel and go from there.

The Chesters will be departing from Liverpool at there usual times, the only difference is a bit of waiting time outside Chester to allow the previous train out as an extra unit has been inserted into the timetable

 

[gray1404]

[

Its all up on real train times, just type in the date you want to travel and go from there.

The Chesters will be departing from Liverpool at there usual times, the only difference is a bit of waiting time outside Chester to allow the previous train out as an extra unit has been inserted into the timetable

I've just had a look on RTT and typed informed me for tomorrow but I can't see the additional trains.

 

[jamesst]

[
I've just had a look on RTT and typed informed me for tomorrow but I can't see the additional trains.

Theres no additional trains tomorrow, its the standard 15min service on all lines.

The additions (& altered Chesters) are Thursday to Sunday inclusive.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Theres no additional trains tomorrow, its the standard 15min service on all lines.

The additions (& altered Chesters) are Thursday to Sunday inclusive.

Interesting, since Northern are running 3tph Monday-Saturday (instead of 2tph, with the bonus running with fewer stops), and a weird timetable (see below) Sunday (instead of 0.5tph).

Monday-Saturday they're running the Leeds-Wigan services to Southport in the time that would otherwise be spent just in the siding - generally seems to be about a 10-15 minute turnaround at Southport, with a few extra minutes at Wigan, we'll see what effect this has on timekeeping.

Sunday has some bonuses but it's not really easy to sum them up easily. These make the usual stops for a Sunday (no New Lane, Bescar Lane or Hoscar).
Arrivals at Southport:
1tph from Manchester (via Atherton) between 09:44 and 12:44, then 14:46, then 1tph 16:44 til 22:44. - various times from xx:44 to xx:51 appear for these
peak direction only trains from Wigan (09:14, 11:14, 12:14 and 13:14)

Departures from Southport:
09:38 then 1tph 11:38, 12:38, 13:38, gap til 1tph 15:38 to 21:38 - all at precisely xx:38.
peak direction only trains to Wigan (18:04 til 22:08)
and the usual 22:54 just to Wigan as the last train

The trains swap between Shuttle and Manchester services, but there are empty trains running to/from Wigan to be able to run the trains in one direction more than the other.
By far the best Sunday service we've seen in a while, although still far below Saturday's standards.

 

[jamesst]

Interesting, since Northern are running 3tph Monday-Saturday (instead of 2tph, with the bonus running with fewer stops), and a weird timetable (see below) Sunday (instead of 0.5tph).

Monday-Saturday they're running the Leeds-Wigan services to Southport in the time that would otherwise be spent just in the siding - generally seems to be about a 10-15 minute turnaround at Southport, with a few extra minutes at Wigan, we'll see what effect this has on timekeeping.

Sunday has some bonuses but it's not really easy to sum them up easily. These make the usual stops for a Sunday (no New Lane, Bescar Lane or Hoscar).
Arrivals at Southport:
1tph from Manchester (via Atherton) between 09:44 and 12:44, then 14:46, then 1tph 16:44 til 22:44. - various times from xx:44 to xx:51 appear for these
peak direction only trains from Wigan (09:14, 11:14, 12:14 and 13:14)

Departures from Southport:
09:38 then 1tph 11:38, 12:38, 13:38, gap til 1tph 15:38 to 21:38 - all at precisely xx:38.
peak direction only trains to Wigan (18:04 til 22:08)
and the usual 22:54 just to Wigan as the last train

The trains swap between Shuttle and Manchester services, but there are empty trains running to/from Wigan to be able to run the trains in one direction more than the other.
By far the best Sunday service we've seen in a while, although still far below Saturday's standards.

To be fair thats a very good effort from Northern esp the extending of the Leeds service.

It terms of Merseyrail all Southport services are booked 8cars Mon to Wed this week so that should be more than sufficient.

 

[Starmill]

Just creates extra work for the staff in having to do ECS checks when they terminate at Hillside, although I guess running those extra services as ECS after Hillside means they can get diverted elsewhere (Sandhills reversing siding, Southport carriage sidings)

From what I was told they were specifically avoiding that, for the reason you give. It's not easy to ensure an 8 is empty. However perhaps they've changed their minds more recently as that was quite some time ago.

 

[Llandudno]

To be fair thats a very good effort from Northern esp the extending of the Leeds service.

It terms of Merseyrail all Southport services are booked 8cars Mon to Wed this week so that should be more than sufficient.

Presumably Northern will completely abandon other Manchester/Lancashire services on Sunday in attempt to find enough volunteer train crew to resource the extra Southport trains?

 

[JBuchananGB]

As others have said, a good effort by Northern. Probably the quickest service from Manchester to Southport for a long time. Example today.
Depart Manchester Vic 0855 arrive Southport 1005 - 70 minutes. (Non-stop Wigan to Southport) Compare next one, depart MCV 0909 arrive SOP 1030 - 81 minutes.

 

[tumbledown]

Interested to hear if these are very busy or if there will be room for non-golf-fans.

 

[JBuchananGB]

However I can't find these additional or amended trains on the Merseyrail website, the Merseyrail journey planner or BR Times.

All seems to be on the MerseyRail website now.

Plan your train travel to The Open at Royal Birkdale | Merseyrail

Find the latest train travel news and advice to plan your journey to The 154th Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale on 12 - 19 July 2026.

www.merseyrail.org

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Interested to hear if these are very busy or if there will be room for non-golf-fans.

I would hope so since some of these are commuter services!

 

[sportzbar]

I would hope so since some of these are commuter services!

Commuter services as far as Wigan. After that they are extra express services on top of the current two per hour stoppers

 

[tumbledown]

Commuter services as far as Wigan. After that they are extra express services on top of the current two per hour stoppers

Yes, it's more that I wonder whether the weekend services will be crush-loaded.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Presumably not many services that could have got intending spectators to Hillside in time for the 6.35 a.m. first tee-off time? Maybe three from Southport? Nothing from Liverpool Central?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

No surprises here, 2I04 (06:17 Leeds to Southport) had all seats taken (combination of commuters to Wigan and golfers to Southport) thanks to a 2 vice 3 short form.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

No surprises here, 2I04 (06:17 Leeds to Southport) had all seats taken (combination of commuters to Wigan and golfers to Southport) thanks to a 2 vice 3 short form.

Presume the golfers actually taking part at Birkdale today didn't travel there on an early morning Northern rattler!

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Presume the golfers actually taking part at Birkdale today didn't travel there on an early morning Northern rattler!

Yes, you know what I meant.

If they were going golfing I don't know how we'd've fit all their equipment, we just barely fit all the people (no clue how bad it was leaving Wigan, but there were lots of people on the platform waiting to get on).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2026 ==

Thanks Northern, looks like another 2 car (158853) today on 2I04 0617 Leeds to Southport.
Normally the Leeds-Wigan services are a mix of 3 and 2+2 158s, but it looks like today it's all 2s and 3s.

A couple years ago this service was booked for a 3 car 195, which would've swallowed these crowds in a heartbeat compared to a 158.
Unfortunately I think the 195s still aren't allowed down to Southport.

I just have to hope I'm able to fit on once it shows up.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2026 ==

As expected, very busy. Nearly all seats taken with many people standing.
Platform at Wigan very busy too, it's going to be busy for those headed further North!

 

[JRT]

FROM Southport via Wigan:
1700 to Manchester 2-car 150 !!
1715 to Leeds 3-car 158
1724 to Stalybridge 4-car 769