New trains are set to begin operation on the Southport – Hunts Cross line in Liverpool City Region by the end of the week.
Announced by Mayor Steve Rotheram, the new, publicly-owned trains will be rolled out gradually over the coming months, completing the final phase of a year-long introduction of new vehicles along the Merseyrail network.
“I know passengers up and down the Southport to Hunts Cross line have been patiently waiting for the rollout of our new publicly owned trains, and from this week they will be ready to welcome them onboard!
“We’ve invested half a billion pounds in our new fleet, which are packed with great new features like sliding step technology, free phone charging and Wi-Fi and more room for bikes and wheelchairs – enabling more people to travel around our region.
“Designed in consultation with local people, our new trains are some of the most accessible and sophisticated in the entire country, with great new features like level access with sliding step technology, more room for bikes and wheelchairs, phone charging and Wi-Fi onboard.
“This investment shows the difference devolution makes. We’re charting our own course, putting the public back into public transport and delivering the services that our 1.6 million residents deserve.”
The introduction of the trains, which forms part of Mayor Rotheram’s ‘Merseyrail For All’ project, follows the recent opening of a new 80 million GBP station at Headbolt Lane in October.
Previous rollouts have seen new trains enter service across the Wirral Line, as well as the Kirkby and Ormskirk branches of the Northern Line.
Built and maintained by Swiss-based manufacturer Stadler, the new slew of trains is steadily replacing one of the oldest fleets in the UK, and includes a wide array of new onboard features, such as sliding steps for disabled users, automatic air conditioning, wider aisles and folding seats.
