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Merseytravel
Chair supports Rail Service improvements for the Liverpool City Region
THE Chair of Merseytravel, Cllr Liam
Robinson, has welcomed the announcement outlining the service levels and quality
of service that bidders for the new Northern and First TransPennine Express
franchises will have to offer from February 2016.
The new specifications have been published, in a bid to drive up standards for
customers on those services that operate between the Liverpool City Region and
Manchester and beyond.
Merseytravel, as part of Rail North, a consortium of 29 Local Transport
Authorities across the North, has been working with the DfT to influence the
design of the new franchises.
Benefits to customers in the Liverpool City Region will include:-
► A share of new and refurbished diesel and electric trains, with the pacers
withdrawn from service by the end of 2019.
► All trains with WiFi by the end of 2019.
► Extra capaCity to ensure all off-peak passengers can expect a seat, and
reduced standing times during peak hours.
► Improved services from 2017 including ˝ hourly evening and Sunday services,
between Liverpool and Wigan and additional evening services between Liverpool,
Warrington and Manchester and between Southport and Manchester.
► Improved passenger facilities and a commitment to safety and security and
information provision.
► An opportunity exists for TransPennine Express bidders to put forward
proposals for a new direct service to Glasgow.
Said Cllr Liam Robinson:- "From a Liverpool City Region perspective this
is a big stride forward in getting a rail network that offers customers a
consistent level of service no matter what their postcode.
For too long we have had a network of two halves. Areas served by Merseyrail
which is locally managed by Merseytravel, enjoy a network that consistently
scores highly for customer satisfaction, reliability and value for money.
However, those who travel towards Manchester on the City Line from such places
as Huyton, St Helens and Southport do not enjoy the same benefits.
Setting high standards and targets for the new franchises will go a long way to
addressing any disparity and will also give us fresh ideas and impetus for our
five-year improvement plan we're already working on with Merseyrail for that
part of our rail network. We'll be lobbying hard to secure a direct service to
Glasgow as part of TransPennine Express.
These new franchises are an essential piece of a much bigger jigsaw to
increasing capaCity on the network and in getting people where they want to go
quickly, efficiently and comfortably.
This is about getting all the benefits we can for customers on the network as it
stands, while looking at how we can transform the infrastructure to support and
drive the economy local, regionally and across the North.
We will soon see completion of the electrification of the lines between Lime
Street and Manchester Victoria and Wigan, meaning that Liverpool to Manchester
in half and hour will become the norm. Meanwhile, the Liverpool City Region's long term rail strategy will see
key activity this year with outline design work on such key schemes as the Halton
Curve, a new station and Maghull North and significant improvements to
Newton-le-Willows, subject to business cases being approved. This is all within
the wider context of work to transform transport infrastructure east to west
across the North, building on HS2 to grow and rebalance the national economy." |
