Merseyrail Announces Plans For New Fleet
Merseyrail's unveiled plans for a new fleet of trains in a £400m redevelopment. The proposals would see the existing ones replaced to cope with the strain of passengers which could see the network 160% over capacity in the next 30 years. The current fleet is approaching 40 years old.
Merseyrail say the faster journey times and increased capacity of new trains could "present a significant economic boost to the City Region, worth an estimated £70m per year and would stimulate the creation of around 1000 jobs."
"The Merseytravel Committee will take a decision at its meeting on 1st October as to whether to approve the commencement of the procurement process for new trains. If agreed, an OJEU notice, which invites bidders to submit their plans will then be published.
"Should approval to proceed be given, it is expected that a preferred bidder would be identified in around 12 months’ time, with city region leaders then asked to approve the project going ahead.
"Worth around £400m, the programme which also includes significant investment in infrastructure such as depots and power supplies, would be funded at no additional cost to the local tax payer, making use of finances already set aside."
It is understood if the proposals are given the go ahead it could lead to around 100 job losses.
Said Merseytravel Chief Executive, David Brown:
“Doing nothing is not an option. The fleet is amongst the oldest in the UK and we want to ensure that we’re geared up to maintain the high standards people have come to expect from Merseyrail, as well as ensuring the fleet can cope with a significant increase in passenger numbers.
“This is not just about new trains, but what they will enable us to do. They will help us improve links within and beyond the city region, supporting our own ambitions and those of the wider ‘Northern Powerhouse’ agenda, as well as benefitting us in very real economic terms, stimulating the creation of jobs and contributing millions of pounds every year to the Liverpool City Region economy.”