Exploring Merseyrail Tunnels. Liverpool Metro

Merseyrail is both a train operating company (TOC) and a commuter rail network in and around the Liverpool City Region, England. It is part of Serco-Abellio and is formed of two electrified lines of the National Rail network, known as the Northern Line and the Wirral Line, which run underground in central Liverpool and Birkenhead, providing a metro-style service. A third line, separate from the metro-style network, is named the City Line, a term used by the governing body Merseytravel to refer to the local services it sponsors on the Liverpool to Manchester Lines and the Liverpool to Wigan Line, operated by Northern.

The Merseyrail network has 68 stations and 75 miles of route, of which 6.5 miles are underground. Carrying approximately 110,000 passengers each weekday, or 34 million passengers per year, it forms the most heavily used urban railway network in the UK outside London. The network is operated by a joint venture between franchise holders Serco and Abellio, who superseded Arriva Trains Merseyside in 2003. The contract runs for 25 years, expiring in 2028. Serco-Abellio operate a fleet of 59 trains and, as of 2015, employ 1,200 people.

This large, comprehensive urban network was formed in 1977 by merging separate rail lines through the construction of new tunnels under Liverpool city centre and Birkenhead. Although financial constraints have prevented some of the 1970s plans for the network from being realised, the network has since been extended, with further extensions proposed.

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The Merseyrail name became the official brand for the network in the days of British Rail and has survived several franchise holders, although the name was not used by Arriva while it held the franchise. Despite this, Merseytravel continued the Merseyrail branding at stations, allowing the name to be adopted colloquially. Merseyrail is referred to as “Merseyrail Electrics” by National Rail Enquiries, and as “Serco/Abellio Merseyrail” by Merseytravel.

The old brick tunnels were built with a natural ventilation system.

We are getting deep inside the tunnel. In some places the ceiling is blackened with soot, because in the 19th century the trains were powered by steam.

This double-track brick tunnel was built in the mid-19th century.

In the distance you can see where the tunnel exits to the surface.

At the end of the double-track brick tunnel there is a fork. The tunnels diverge at different angles, heading in different directions.

One of the abandoned, unfinished dead ends.

In some places the tunnels look like railroad trains. At the top of the picture, a faint light from the street makes its way through the ventilation shaft.