Act now or Merseyrail winter travel fiasco will happen again, says new report

The ‘unprecedented’ failure of Merseyrail services in freezing weather could happen again, unless the responsible organisations work together, a report into the travel chaos has warned.

The region’s rail services were completely suspended for several hours on the morning of January 9 this year when temperatures plummeted, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

One train was marooned for two hours between stations with no access to toilets or water.

Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, tasked Greater Manchester transport commissioner, Vernon Everitt, with the investigation into the fiasco.

His report has now been published, which found that the system failed for two reasons: This was the first winter with an entirely new fleet of trains which responded to ice in a different way to the old rolling stock; and a new de-icing product was being used which had not been tested against snow on the network.

The report warns that if no changes are enacted, the network will succumb to the same fate next winter.

Mr Everitt has set a deadline of June 2025 for the relevant authorities to work together and adapt the previous winter operating plans.

The report found that the main problem was ice on the third rail, which supplies electricity to the train fleet, the new 777 model trains built by Swiss manufacturer, Stadler, costing the Merseyside tax payer £500m.

The old trains ‘sheered off’ ice from the third rail – but when the new trains came into contact with ice they ‘lifted up’, no longer making contact with the third rail, and coming to a stop.

Mr Everitt said: “You will never eliminate all risk of this because third rails are inherently open. You can get to the conditions where ice does form, but you need the anti-icer and the train working in harmony to minimise that risk to the lowest possible level, and you need to start work on that now.”

He said there needs to be a single person with sole responsibility for the issues, and suggested Liverpool City Region Combined Authority should appoint someone with accountability for new winter travel plans.

In a joint statement, Merseyrail, Stadler and Network Rail said: “We welcome the findings of the review of the disruption on the 9th January 2025. As the report makes clear, Merseyrail is a well-managed and high performing network.

“It’s right, therefore, that when things don’t go to plan that we review and learn from them.

“Merseyrail, Network Rail and Stadler are committed to working closely with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, to ensure that the plan for winter resilience is the best it can possibly be.”

Steve Rotheram said: “The disruption on 9 January caused serious inconvenience for passengers. It had to be a line in the sand which is why I stepped in to convene partners and commission an independent review.

“While the network is fragmented and we don’t operate the trains, we still have a responsibility to hold those who do to account.

“I’d like to thank Vernon Everitt for his comprehensive, honest and no-nonsense report. Collectively, we’re accepting all of its recommendations and we have already begun working with Merseyrail, Network Rail and Stadler to put them into action – from improving planning and communications to making sure there’s clear system-wide accountability in place.”