City region to get £460m worth of new trains
THE Merseyrail network is set to get new trains after Liverpool City Region leaders gave the green light to the £460m project.
State-of-the-art trains that will come into service by the end of 2020 will replace the near 40-year-old fleet that currently runs on the network – the oldest in the UK.
The trains will be built and maintained by Swiss manufacturer, Stadler, subject to a final legal process and the signing of the contracts in the New Year.
They will be safer – most notably in the ease in which everyone can get on and off – and will also make Merseyrail the most accessible traditional network in the country.
The trains will be able to carry 60% more passengers while retaining the same number of seats, will cut journey times by 10% – equivalent of up to nine minutes on some end-to-end routes, and will have the capabilities to eventually run beyond the current Merseyrail boundaries to places like Skelmersdale, Wrexham and Warrington.
The decision by the Combined Authority marks the end of an extensive procurement process which formally began in October 2015 when the Merseytravel Committee gave permission for the project to go to tender after approving the business case for new trains, recognising that it represented best value for money long term.
Mayor of Liverpool and chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Joe Anderson said: “The people of our city region need and deserve new trains. Merseyrail is one of the top performing networks in the country and we want to keep it that way.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity for custom built trains that will be safer and carry more people, more quickly.
“A better rail service will bring a boost to the regional economy of £70m every year, plus a1000 new jobs. It’s also one our first Devo Deal successes for the city region as we’ve got commitment for funding that will help make this project happen.
“Unusually, these trains will be owned by us locally, meaning we can make sure the trains are exactly what passengers want and that they are ready for our future plans.”
Cllr Rob Polhill, leader of Halton and lead member for transport on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority added: “The decision is not just about the new trains themselves but what they will enable us to do.
“These trains will have the capability to operate beyond the current Merseyrail boundaries, potentially bringing the benefits of the high performing network to people in places like Skelmersdale and along the Borderlands line into Wrexham within the next 30 years – helping us deliver our long term rail strategy.
“The new trains will help us improve links within and beyond our area, linking in to the wider ‘Northern Powerhouse Rail’ agenda.”
Cllr Liam Robinson, chair of the Merseytravel Committee, said: “These new trains will be fit-for-the-future, safer and faster and at no additional cost to passengers or council tax payers. It is a ‘must do’ project; the benefits are clear.”
