Action group meets to tackle rail troubles
LOCAL MPs and authorities are working together to improve the borough’s rail services. They aim to ensure that Transport for the North and the train operator are committed to giving the issue priority.
Bill Esterson, Sefton Central MP and Cllr Liam Robinson, chair of the region’s transport authority, met Sefton Councillor Gordon Friel and rail campaigners Dr Jim Ford and Alan Fantom.
They said it was a stated given that the right, direct rail services to Manchester are essential for Southport, all of Sefton and West Lancashire.
The meeting recognised the problems caused by not only the much reported failure by Northern to deliver services since new timetables were introduced, but also the fact that Southport and the communities along the line have also lost their vital direct link to the south side of Manchester.
It was agreed that these issues must be addressed together and urgently with Cllr Friel saying: “Not only are there economic losses, the social impact is already being felt.”
Mr Esterson said: “The MPs and authorities must and will work together to get us the earliest resolution of the immediate issues and to see overall improvement to our transport links in the face of growing traffic congestion.”
The meeting heard that with “staycations” and visits to the coast increasingly popular during one of the warmest summers on record, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram had secured some additional funding to help market Southport as some compensation for the loss of business arising from the rail problems.
Cllr Robinson added: “We must not stop at getting over the current problems.
“We must pursue extra, faster services to Manchester and beyond that puts Southport on a par with other coastal towns, like Blackpool and Scarborough”.