The integrated transport authority Merseytravel, and its executive, have been campaigning for devolution regarding control of the tracks used by Merseyrail electric trains for several years.
However, the ITA has ‘gone cold’ on the concept of vertical integration and is no longer going to pursue the idea following the election of a coalition government.
The ITA says that the change in position is due to fears that spending on railways may be slashed under the current government and that such a possibility made it too risky a proposition.
Merseytravel also said the network, which contains tunnels beneath the Mersey, has the potential to generate huge maintenance bills.
In his recent Rail Value for Money report Sir Roy McNulty recommends that vertical integration of the Merseyrail network takes place within the next four years.
