Mersey Reporter - #Merseybites #News

PASSENGERS travelling on Merseyrail's Kirkby Line could receive refunds on tickets issued in 2023, following performance issues with the UK's first mainline battle-powered trains.

Rail users who bought a weekly, monthly, term-time or annual ticket, in 2023 at:- Fazakerley, Kirkby, or Headbolt Lane Stations will receive a letter with information about how to claim their money back in full.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said the money was a:- "gesture of goodwill" and a way to:- "recognise the patience and understanding shown by passengers" after the project was originally plagued with delays at the start.

The very 1st services using the new 777 units started in January 2023, on the Kirkby, as the roll out of the Region’s brand new, custom built, state of the art trains started across the local railway network.

In October 2023 Headbolt Lane Station was opened, but soon after, in November 2023, the Mayor met with train manufacturer Stadler and made clear, in no uncertain terms, his dissatisfaction with the disruption to services and demanded sustainable improvements, while urging train operator Merseyrail to do everything possible to minimise disruption.

Since the original teething issues and disruption to the services operated with the Region’s new £500m publicly owned trains, on the Kirkby Line, have progressed to 3 trains per hour. Merseyrail now hopes to restore a full 15 minute timetable to the line as soon as possible, like it is on the rest of the Network.

Further announcements are planned to recognise non Railpass holders whose journeys have been affected, and Merseyrail has said more details will be provided as soon as possible.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, told the media:- "It's been a transformational 12 months for our local rail network. From launching the country’s 1st publicly owned trains in a generation to opening the new £80m Headbolt Lane Station; we are creating a brighter, better connected future for our Region’s railways. However, being a pioneer hasn't come without its challenges. We anticipated that we would encounter some teething issues and disruption during the delivery of our new station and trains, but I'll be the 1st to say that services on the Kirkby line have fallen short of the standards that our passengers deserve. While I cannot undo the disruption that passengers have already faced, I hope this gesture demonstrates our appreciation for their patience and understanding. I want to reassure passengers that we are working around the clock to overcome these challenges and we are already seeing sustainable improvements. It is my belief that these issues will soon be behind us and passengers will be able to enjoy decades of reliable service from 1 of the most sophisticated and accessible fleets in the country."

Does this affect you? Post your comments bellow...