Wirral Line

The Wirral Line is one of two commuter railway lines operated by Merseyrail that are centred around Merseyside, England, the other being the Northern Line. A third line of the Merseyrail network, the City Line, is not operated by the Merseyrail train operating company, although also receives funding from Merseytravel, the passenger transport executive for Merseyside.

The Wirral Line connects Liverpool to the Wirral Peninsula via the Mersey Railway Tunnel, with branches to New Brighton, West Kirby, Chester and Ellesmere Port. Beneath Liverpool, the line follows a clockwise circular route in a single-track tunnel called the Loop, built during the early 1970s.

The line was developed through the amalgamation of several historic railways and has carried its present name since the opening of the Merseyrail network by HM Queen Elizabeth II on 25 October 1978 during the British Rail period. The Wirral Line is fully electrified with a DC third rail, and has existed in its current form since 29 May 1994 with the outset of electric services to Ellesmere Port. A total of 34 stations are served by the line, and connections are available with mainline services at Liverpool Lime Street and Chester, and with the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network at Liverpool Central and Moorfields.