Important city centre travel information for October

Liverpool city centre will see several temporary traffic arrangements introduced in the coming weeks to ensure the smooth and safe execution of this year’s River of Light festival. Travelers are advised to plan their journeys in advance, as these measures include road closures and changes to local rail services prompted by significant Merseyrail infrastructure work.

Specifically, Water Street will be subject to closures to allow event crews to install and later dismantle the festival’s light displays. From 8am on Sunday, 18 October until 8pm on Tuesday, 20 October, the stretch of Dale Street and Water Street between Exchange Street East and Lower Castle Street will be closed. This section will close again from 8am on Monday, 2 November to 8pm on Tuesday, 3 November for the removal of the artworks. Additionally, during the festival itself—from Friday, 23 October to Sunday, 1 November—Dale Street will be closed to general traffic between Byrom Street and Water Street (at its junction with The Strand), along with several adjoining side streets, between 5pm and 9pm each evening.

The affected side streets include Lower Castle Street, Fenwick Street, Rumford Street, Covent Garden, Drury Lane, and Tower Gardens. These closures are necessary due to the close proximity of the installations to the roadways and are intended to protect visitors attending the free event safely. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternative routes and allow additional travel time. Signposted diversions will be in place throughout the closures. Public transport is recommended as the preferred mode of travel where possible. It’s also important to note that Great Howard Street remains closed northbound due to emergency electrical repairs by Scottish Power.

Simultaneously with the festival, substantial engineering works on the Merseyrail Northern Line will be underway. Replacement bus services will cover the route between Hunts Cross and Moorfields stations from Monday to Saturday. Train operations will continue on other routes from Liverpool Central to Southport, Ormskirk, and Headbolt Lane. Sunday schedules will see replacement buses running between Hunts Cross and Sandhills stations, with trains operating from Sandhills to Southport, Ormskirk, and Headbolt Lane. On Sunday, 18 October, Wirral line trains will terminate at James Street station, with no service at Moorfields, Lime Street, or Liverpool Central. Furthermore, on Sundays 25 October and 1 November, bus replacements will serve between Birkenhead North and Moorfields and between Rock Ferry and Moorfields, while trains operate between Chester/Ellesmere Port and Rock Ferry, and West Kirby/New Brighton and Birkenhead North.

The River of Light festival runs free of charge from 23 October to 1 November, showcasing 13 light art installations under the theme ‘Together,’ emphasizing how light can unite people joyfully. Several of these artworks are world premieres. Illuminations take place nightly from 5pm to 9pm. With an expected large audience, visitors are encouraged to use public transport, benefiting from close proximity of key sites to James Street station, Moorfields station, and Queen Square bus station, where clear signage directs attendees to the artworks. For up-to-date travel information, attendees should consult the official Merseytravel website

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