People are being reminded to plan their journeys and follow key advice when travelling during the festive season.

A round up of transport information is now available, with Merseytravel confirming that it will be running its annual, special network of free bus services on Christmas Day between around 12 noon and 6pm, covering most hospital routes.

The Mersey Tunnels Tolls will also be free, as usual, between 10pm on Christmas Eve and 6am on Boxing Day.

Travellers are being urged to plan ahead and check timetables, so they don’t get caught out as some services finish earlier than usual at this time of year, particularly on Christmas Eve.

They should also continue to follow the current Government guidance that includes compulsory wearing of face coverings on board all public transport as well as at ferry terminals, bus and rail stations to help keep everyone safe.

Merseytravel is working with transport operators to provide services as safely as possible with minimal disruption. Staff will be out and about on the network providing reassurance and advice to passengers.

Cllr Liam Robinson, Transport and Air Quality Portfolio Holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said:

“This is a busy time of year for lots of reasons  but with the emergence of the Omicron variant it’s really important that we all do everything we can to help reduce the spread of the virus and keep everyone safe.

“The Metro Mayor has always said that face coverings should remain mandatory in enclosed public spaces and on public transport and I’m urging everyone to continue to wear them when you’re travelling and in places where you are mixing with lots of people, especially indoors.”

Travel Roundup

Below is a roundup of bus, train and ferry services across the Liverpool City Region over the Christmas and New Year period. A full round up is available in the Christmas and New Year Public Transport Guide  available online.

For more information visit operator websites, the Merseytravel website and Re Think Travel.

For Merseytravel Centres opening hours follow this link

Christmas Day – Friday 25 December

• A special network of free bus services, funded by Merseytravel, will run between approximately 12 noon and 6pm, covering most hospital routes
• No other bus services will operate.
• No trains will operate.
• Mersey Ferries will not operate.
• The Kingsway (Wallasey) Mersey Tunnel and the Queensway (Birkenhead) Mersey Tunnel will be open throughout the holiday period. Both tunnels will be toll free from 10pm on Thursday 24 December until 6am on Saturday 26 December.

Bus services

Bus services may vary over the festive period.

Visit www.merseytravel.gov.uk or Travel Updates page for latest planned changes to services and with operators including Arriva and Stagecoach.

Football Fixtures on 26 December, 30 December and 2 January, the following buses will be running to their normal timetables:

Soccerbus (Peoplesbus)

501/502 (Peoplesbus)

917 Liverpool FC (Stagecoach)

919 Everton FC (Stagecoach)

Taxi One Liverpool FC (A & J Taxis)

Rail

During the festive period there will be changes to some timetables, with some services finishing earlier than usual and some services not running.

Merseyrail and Northern will be running some services on Boxing day.

For Wirral, Northern and City line services check www.merseyrail.org or www.northernrailway.co.uk

If you’re heading out of the region by rail check your journey plans by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk

Mersey Tunnels

Kingsway and Queensway Tunnels will remain open throughout the festive period. Both tunnels will be toll free between 10pm on Christmas Eve and 6am on Boxing Day.

Mersey Ferries

Mersey Ferries will run to their normal morning service on Christmas Eve with an early finish.

Mersey Ferries will not operate on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

River Explorer Cruises will operate between Monday 27 December and Monday 3 January (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day) from the Pier Head at 1100, then hourly until the last service which will depart from the Pier Head at 1500, arriving at Woodside 1520. There will be no commuter service.

Normal service will resume on Tuesday 4 January with the first Commuter service at 0720 from Woodside and the first River Explorer Cruise departing from the Pier Head at 1000.

Visit www.merseyferries.co.uk

Please note all the information maybe subject to change.