LED lights switch-on leads the way to a brighter, greener future for Queensway Tunnel

THE Liverpool City Region's journey towards making the transport network:- "Net Zero" took another step forward this week with the completion of the Queensway Tunnel lighting refresh project.

Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee, officially switched on the £11m LED lighting scheme in a special ceremony just before Christmas.

The tunnel is now fitted with 1,058 new LED lights, 230 new electricity distribution boards and more than 100,000 metres of power cabling all of which will cut the tunnels carbon output by 60% each year.

The lighting upgrade is part of Mayor Rotheram's plans to decarbonise the City Region's public transport network, contributing to the Region's ambitious target to be net zero by 2035.

Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:- "The £11m lighting upgrade in the Queensway Tunnel is not only an important project for the on-going maintenance of the structure but is also a vital scheme in our pledge to make our City Region net zero by 2035. We're delighted that we have been able to complete these works ahead of schedule and it's a credit to the work of the project team that we have been able to achieve this. This year we celebrated the 90th Anniversary of the Queensway opening, and these works are a testament to our on going commitment to invest in an essential part of our City Region transport network. We'd like to thank tunnel users for the patience and understanding they showed while the works were carried out."

With its 25-year lifespan, the new energy efficient LED system throughout the 2 mile tunnel will also create electricity cost savings without any reduction in lighting quality.

Funded through the Liverpool City Region's:- 'City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement,' it will bring the Queensway Tunnel in line with the Kingsway:- 'Wallasey' Tunnel, which became more energy efficient thanks to completion of a similar upgrade in June 2018.

This lighting upgrade is part of an ongoing investment and modernisation programme to future proof the tunnels as a key part of the City Region transport network and a vital a cross-river travel option.

Train operator vows to help transform harmful culture towards women and girls across the North of England

THE Northern is the 2nd largest train operator in the UK, Northern, has vowed to play its part in helping to transform the harmful culture, attitude and behaviour of some men towards women and girls across the North of England.

The train operator is working with White Ribbon, the UK's leading charity engaging men and boys to end violence against women and girls, on a three-year campaign to take the charity's message to its 7,000 employees and millions of customers.

Northern's contribution will be led from the top, with managing director, Tricia Williams, chairing a dedicated group to champion the cause that will bring together staff in operational roles, support functions and those based at their TrainCare Centres.

Northern has since received White Ribbon Accreditation; a status awarded to organisations with a plan in place to help support the cause.

Tricia Williams, Managing Director of Northern, said:- "White Ribbon is doing amazing work to highlight the sad reality of unwanted sexual behaviour, harassment and abuse faced by women and girls across the country every day of the year. We're proud to be working with them to change that reality; and our White Ribbon Accreditation is a sign of our commitment to bringing about positive change in the communities we serve and ensuring we have inclusive workplaces where everyone feels that they belong."

Earlier this month, Northern's Chief Operating Officer, Matt Rice, took part in a panel event to discuss the role the rail industry has to play in the White Ribbon campaign, declaring:- "we can all do more."

White Ribbon works with over 400 organisations to positively change harmful cultures, attitudes and behaviours so that all women and girls can live without the fear of violence or harassment.

Their campaign highlights that that 70% of women in the UK say they have experienced sexual harassment in public (APPG for UN Women, 2021).

3 in 5 women have experienced sexual harassment, bullying or verbal abuse in the workplace (Trade Unions Congress, 2023) and 15% of women in England have experienced online violence (Professor Olga Jurasz, The Open University, 2024).

Nearly a quarter (24%) of girls in mixed sex Schools said they had experiences of unwanted sexual touching in School (EVAW, 2023) and 1.4 million women experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 (ONS).