A number of Merseyrail trains on two lines will be cancelled this weekend and into next week in a "temporary" change.

Merseyrail posted on social media on Friday, November 17, to inform its customers of changes to the timetable on the Southport and Hunts Cross lines. The changes, which start on Saturday, November 18, come following the introduction of the new Class 777 trains on the network.

A number of services will now be cancelled to "assist with driver training". The services affected include eight from Southport to Hunts Cross, six from Hunts Cross to Southport, one from Liverpool South Parkway to Southport.

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There will also be a change to Saturday's 8.39pm service from Southport to Hunts Cross, which will instead start at Sandhills at 9.21pm.

A spokesperson from the travel provider said: "Following the introduction of the new Class 777 trains onto the Merseyrail network, temporary timetable changes are being made to the Hunts Cross and Southport lines to assist with driver training. From Saturday 18 November some services will be cancelled.

"The cancelled services are as follows: On Mondays-Fridays, there will be four trains cancelled from Southport to Hunts Cross (12:39, 17:24, 19:54, 22:54). There will be two trains cancelled from Hunts Cross to Southport (13:51, 18:36), and one train from Liverpool South Parkway to Southport cancelled (21:07).

"On Saturdays there will be four trains cancelled from Southport to Hunts Cross (12:39, 13:39, 17:24, 18:09). The 20:39 service from Southport to Hunts Cross will start at Sandhills at 21:21.

"There will be four trains cancelled from Hunts Cross to Southport (13:51, 14:51, 18:36, 19:21). There are no cancellations on Sundays.

"Passengers should check the journey planner before they travel."

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