Merseyrail Strike Action Postponed as Improved Pay Offer Goes to Ballot

Planned strike action on the Merseyrail network this weekend has been postponed after the operator submitted an improved pay offer to the RMT union.

The industrial action had been scheduled to take place between Saturday 18 and Monday 20 July as part of the ongoing dispute over the 2026 pay award.

The revised proposal will now be issued to RMT members for consideration in a formal ballot, giving employees the opportunity to vote on the improved offer.

Merseyrail has welcomed the postponement and confirmed that services are expected to operate as normal across the network throughout the weekend.

It means passengers travelling to and from The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale should no longer face the major disruption previously anticipated.

The limited contingency timetable announced in preparation for the strikes will no longer be required, with regular services expected to run between Saturday and Monday.

The outcome of the RMT ballot will determine the next stage of the ongoing pay negotiations.

Neil Grabham, Managing Director, Merseyrail, said:

“We are pleased that the RMT has agreed to postpone the planned industrial action while its members consider and vote on the improved offer that has been put forward.

“This is positive news for our customers, our employees and the Liverpool City Region.

“Merseyrail is proud to be one of the best-performing train operators in the country, and we are now looking forward to focusing on what we do best – delivering for our customers, supporting The Open Championship, and providing the safe, reliable and high-quality railway that the Liverpool City Region depends upon.”

“We are grateful to our customers for their patience and understanding while these discussions have been taking place, and we are pleased that they can now continue to travel with confidence this weekend.”

Before You Travel

Customers should continue to check the Merseyrail website or app before travelling for the latest service information and journey updates.