Merseytravel partnership brings new rail link

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In a unique partnership agreement Merseytravel and Northern Rail have provided up to seven additional services a day linking Blackpool to Liverpool via Preston, Wigan, St Helens and Liverpool Lime Street and now taking in the flagship Liverpool South Parkway interchange – without the addition of a single carriage.

Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel and a former train driver himself, said:

“It was simply a question of looking at the route and making the best possible use of available rolling stock.

Neil Scales, Chief Executive of Merseytravel, added:

“I’m delighted we’ve been able to provide yet another service to Liverpool South Parkway which has been an amazing success since it opened. The latest figures show an increase of more than 18 per cent over the same week last year with a throughput of up to 6,000 passengers a day.

“We’ve achieved the increase in service by simply extending the route to Liverpool South Parkway, a 13 minute journey, utilising the 55 minute idling time which trains spent at Lime Street Station.”

Lee Wasnidge, Area Director for Northern Rail, comments:

“We are very proud of our working relationship with Merseytravel and this is a great example of us pulling together to benefit the customer. This new service will really open up the journey opportunities for thousands of people around the North West, with more connections to Liverpool John Lennon Airport.”

The new route improvements coincide with an upgrade of the 501 bus service, operated by Arriva. Arriva are introducing extra long ‘bendy’ buses to make sure passengers trips are as seamless as possible.

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