Transport for the North welcomes initial findings of ORR Report on Timetable Disruption

TRANSPORT for the North has, 20 September 2018, welcomed the publication of the Office of Rail and Road's:- 'Independent Inquiry into the Timetable Disruption in May 2018.'

Barry White, Chief Executive of Transport for the North, said:- "The interim findings of this Glaister Review clearly highlight that there is a real need for radical change in the way the rail industry operates. Fundamentally, as our members have said from the outset, changes are needed so we can be sure passenger's interests are put front and centre of every decision made. The Report's summary highlights the Rail Delivery Group's statement that 'the timetable is our promise to passengers'. This summer, in the North of England, and elsewhere, that promise was broken. That is unacceptable. It was passengers who suffered and that must not be allowed to happen again."

Transport for the North's members recently called on Government to appoint an independent person to oversee the co-ordination of the rail industry as an urgent measure to ensure co-ordination across the industry and between track and train. The appointment of Richard George, who managed the transport for the London Olympics, was announced by Government earlier this month. Members also pressed for a comprehensive compensation package for travellers and areas that have faced the worst of the disruption; schemes to provide this are currently under roll out.

Barry White said:- "That appointment, and the compensation packages, are 1st steps on a long journey of rail reform. The findings of this Report when it is concluded, informed by the findings of our own Review now underway through the Rail North Partnership, will help further ensure that passenger's voices are heard."

White said he recognised that people don't want to hear about endless reviews, but want action, and added:- "Throughout this Summer we have worked tirelessly to ensure the train operating companies stabilise services in the North and with some success; and we will continue to do so. What passengers need above all is a reliable train service, one they can depend on; and that's where our immediate focus has been."

The Transport for the North Chief Executive said the pan-Northern organisation, which gained statutory status in April 2018, would continue to actively participate in the Review and make sure its members views were fully represented as the industry and those that regulate it move forward.

Get a 1st look at the full size replica new Merseyrail trains on public display

PEOPLE from across the Liverpool City Region are being invited to come and experience the new trains coming to the Merseyrail network. A realistic, full scale mock up of one of the train carriages will be on public view on the Wirral and in Liverpool City Centre.

The detailed and lifelike replica train is fully interactive, with working doors and an automatic sliding step which will bridge the gap between the train and platform edge, making the network more accessible to all users; including wheelchairs users. Visitors will be able to walk along the open and spacious aisles, try the new wider seats and even take a look at the state of the art technology inside the driver's cab.

Staff will be on hand to talk through the features of the new trains, designed and built by Swiss company Stadler. These features; chosen with the input and guidance of Liverpool City Region residents and rail network users; include phone charging points and bike racks.

The mock up trains will be on display:-

► Pacific Road, Birkenhead, CH41 1LJ: 1 October to 14 October, Monday to Sunday, from 8:00am to 5:30pm, except on Tuesday's wnen it will be open between:- 8:00am to 7:30pm.

► Liverpool Lime Street, L1 1JD: 5 November to 18 November, Monday to Sunday:- 7:00am to 8:30pm.

► More information can be found at the following link:- MerseyTravel.Gov.UK/NewTrains.

Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor said:- "It is fantastic news that our train mock up will be heading across the water in the next two weeks and to Lime Street, in November. Before the new trains were designed and ordered, we asked the public what features they would like to see on them. We listened; and because of this; by 2020 we will see the most sophisticated trains in the country arrive on our network. They will be more accessible, equipped with 21st century necessities such as wifi and air conditioning, and most importantly they will give our economy an annual boost worth tens of millions of pounds. This is an exciting opportunity for people to have a sneak peek at our new trains before they arrive; and I would encourage anyone who is a regular train user; and those who aren't; to go and have a look while they have the chance."

Councillor Liam Robinson, transport portfolio holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said:- "As the Combined Authority and Merseytravel will be buying the new trains directly, they're going to be owned by the people of the Liverpool City Region; so it's brilliant to be able to invite everyone along to see and experience what will be their new trains. And the term 'mock up' really doesn't do the carriage justice; the carriage is so realistic, you'll be expecting it to start moving off the moment you get on board."

Andy Heath, Managing Director of Merseyrail said:- "The mock up is a very realistic replica of what passengers can expect from the new state of the art trains. I would encourage the public and all of our passengers to visit the mock up so they can really appreciate the sense of space, new features and modern look and feel that we can all look forward to enjoying from 2020."

Thomas Zweifel, programme director and deputy managing director, Stadler Rail Service UK, said:- "The mock up will whet the public's appetite for the new trains, bringing to life some of the modern features and enabling people to experience the spacious, open environment. With car-body assembly now underway and the new depot at Kirkdale progressing well, we are delighted that this transformational project for the Liverpool City Region is getting ever closer to fruition."