Fire near Wirral railway brings Wrexham–Bidston line to a standstill

Rail services on part of the Wrexham to Bidston line have been brought to a halt following a fire close to the railway on the Wirral, near Bidston station. The incident has led to a full suspension of trains through the affected area, with significant disruption anticipated for the remainder of the day.

Transport for Wales confirmed that no trains are able to run on the route while the situation is dealt with. Passengers have been warned to expect prolonged disruption and to plan for longer journeys if they need to travel, as alternative road transport cannot match normal rail journey times.

To help passengers continue their journeys, Merseyrail has introduced ticket acceptance on replacement transport. Rail tickets can be used at no extra cost on rail replacement services operating between Birkenhead North and New Brighton or West Kirby. In addition, passengers are being allowed to use Arriva Buses services 407 and 437, as well as Stagecoach service 38, without additional charge.

Transport for Wales has also said it is arranging its own replacement road transport, while cautioning customers that road-based alternatives will inevitably take longer than the suspended train services. Travellers are being advised to allow extra time and to check before setting off.

A Transport for Wales spokesperson said:

"Due to fire near the railway between Bidston (BID) and Wrexham Central (WXC) train services will be suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day. Replacement road transport has been sourced."

National Rail has issued a similar warning, highlighting the scale of the disruption at Bidston station itself. A spokesperson said:

"The fire brigade are dealing with an incident near the railway at Bidston. This means that all lines at this station are currently blocked. As a result of this, services running to / from and through Bidston are unable to operate and will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day."

Passengers are also being reminded that ticket acceptance and alternative travel arrangements may change or be withdrawn at short notice, and that they should always confirm the latest information with their operator before travelling.

Image: Google Maps