38-737: Merseytravel is the passenger transport executive responsible for the coordination of public transport in the Liverpool City Region in North West England . It was established on 1 December 1969 as the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive . From 1 April 2014, with the creation of the Liverpool City Region, Merseytravel expanded its area of operation from the metropolitan county of Merseyside to also include
76-523: A 25-year contract on 20 July 2003. Unlike most rolling stock that is owned by private sector rolling stock companies , Merseytravel will outright own the Class 777 fleet, operated by Merseyrail. The current Class 507 and Class 508 fleets are owned by Angel Trains and leased to Merseyrail. A third line, the City line , also historically branded as Merseyrail under British Rail , was also privatised under
114-698: A best value tendering system. Fares are presently subsidised at levels lower than local commercial services. Merseytravel owns and operates the Mersey Ferry service between Liverpool Pier Head , Seacombe in Wallasey and Woodside in Birkenhead. The fleet consists of two vessels: Royal Iris of the Mersey and Snowdrop . There are three transport tunnels under the River Mersey . Merseytravel
152-450: A connected network across the six areas that form the city region. The actual date of the rename has not been confirmed. As the responsible passenger transport executive, Merseytravel is responsible for the co-ordination of local rail services which operate within Liverpool City Region under the direction of the combined authority. Merseytravel is the owner of Merseyrail which operates services across Merseyside, Cheshire, and Lancashire under
190-560: A franchise model. As a result of the privatisation of British Rail , the Northern and Wirral lines of the local Merseyrail rail network were brought together as the Merseyrail Electrics passenger franchise , that was privatised on 19 January 1997. Under the original privatisation legislation of 1993, PTEs were co-signatories of franchise agreements covering their areas. The first train operating company (TOC) awarded
228-405: A hot-bed of intense competition with less lucrative services ignored and, in some cases, disappearing. Ultimately, things settled down in the mid-1990s, with Merseybus parent company MTL took over a number of the new entrants, some disappearing and North Western – now owned by Arriva – the remainder. In 2000 MTL was bought by Arriva and is now part of an enlarged Arriva North West . However, Arriva
266-562: A museum dedicated to The Beatles located on Royal Albert Dock . Neil Scales , the former chief executive and director general of Merseytravel, in his 2011 presentation "Growing the Railways on Merseyside," outlined future projects that Merseytravel may be involved in: Merseytravel have also stated their support to linking Liverpool to the High Speed 2 network with a directly connected, brand new, twin-track line. In September 2017,
304-671: A number of specialist task groups which bring together professionals from across the pteg network to focus on specific policy areas and to share expertise and good practice. The PTEG Support Unit, based in Leeds , co-ordinated PTEG's activities and acted as a central point of contact. PTEG became Urban Transport Group in 2018. In Scotland, the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport , formerly Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive, Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive, and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority, covers
342-487: A report was compiled into the reopening of Liverpool St James railway station which concluded that the reopening of the station would be highly beneficial. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced in August 2019 that they were planning on using £172 million of funding on several major transport projects. These included: In 2023, new ferry was commissioned. Making the announcement, Mayor Rotheram said that
380-737: A separate legal entity; in these areas the combined authority itself is the executive. In recent years the PTEs and ITAs have campaigned to be given more powers to regulate local bus services, as is the case in London (see London Buses ). The Passenger Transport Executive Group (PTEG) was a federated body based in Leeds to bring together and promote the interests of the six PTEs in England, plus associate members Strathclyde Partnership for Transport; Transport for London ; Nottingham City Council; and Bristol and
418-752: Is extended to include the whole of the Liverpool City Region , which comprises Merseyside and the Borough of Halton . In May 2021, mayor Steve Rotherham set out a plan for all trains, buses and ferries to become an integrated transport system under Merseytravel, owned by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority . On 19 July 2024, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced Merseytravel would be renamed to Transport for Liverpool City Region (TfLCR) to help fall in line with Transport for London and Transport for Greater Manchester , as part of efforts to promote
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#1732773147399456-572: Is responsible for the two road tunnels , Kingsway and Queensway , under the River Mersey and also controls the Mersey Tunnels Police . Merseyrail also runs through a railway tunnel under the river connecting central Liverpool and Birkenhead which was the first transport tunnel under the Mersey to be built, in the nineteenth century. Merseytravel, through Mersey Ferries, owns the Liverpool tourist attraction The Beatles Story ,
494-561: Is worth bearing in mind that PTEs do not, strictly speaking, own anything - their role is a statutory one to provide services using the resources provided to them by the ITAs. There are currently six passenger transport executives in England , covering areas which correspond - though are not limited - to metropolitan counties . When a combined authority is created the integrated transport area and integrated transport authority are replaced with
532-498: The Borough of Halton . In July 2024, it was announced it is to be rebranded as Transport for Liverpool City Region ( TfLCR ) in the future. The Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority and Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive were established as a result of the Transport Act 1968 . The authority, which was responsible for transport strategy and policy, included representatives from 18 different councils. The executive
570-751: The United Kingdom , passenger transport executives ( PTEs ) are local government bodies which are responsible for public transport within large urban areas. They are accountable to combined authorities , which were created between 2011 and 2016 and took the role of integrated transport authorities (ITAs). The PTEs have joined together to form the Urban Transport Group (Passenger Transport Executive Group (PTEG) until 2016), in which Transport for London and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport also participate. The first PTEs and Passenger Transport Authorities (PTAs) were established in
608-987: The deregulation and privatisation of bus services in 1986 throughout England (except in Greater London ), it operated a large proportion of the bus services on Merseyside, under the Merseyside Transport brand. It had taken over the municipally provided bus operations of Liverpool, Birkenhead and Wallasey county borough corporations in 1970, and expanded to cover the county borough municipal corporation areas and bus services of St Helens and Southport in 1974. The PTE also extensively coordinated and joint operated bus services on Merseyside with National Bus Company subsidiaries Crosville and Ribble . These were both longer distance services coming into Merseyside from Cheshire and Lancashire along with Crosville and Ribble services operated in Sefton, Liverpool and
646-420: The metropolitan boroughs , or in the case of Strathclyde by the twelve unitary authority councils in the area. The ITAs are not "precepting authorities", so they have to negotiate a "levy" every year that is applied to council tax collected by the local authorities in the areas that they serve. The executive usually requests a budget and the council representatives on the ITAs negotiate from this position. It
684-510: The 1993 Act, but as part of the much larger North West Regional Railways (NWRR) franchise. On 2 March 1997, North Western Trains, later rebranded First North Western , commenced operating the franchise. Some Class 142 units were repainted in Merseytravel's yellow livery. This line was not included in the 2003 exemption given to the other two lines, and so it has continued as part of the government-administered rail franchise system, although
722-481: The Merseyrail Electrics brand. On 18 February 2000, MTL was purchased by Arriva , and on 27 April 2001, rebranded as Arriva Trains Merseyside. On 23 April 2003, Serco-Abellio were awarded the Merseyrail Electrics franchise with the services operated by Arriva Trains Merseyside transferring to Merseyrail on 20 July 2003. Arriva Trains Merseyside inherited a fleet of Class 507 and Class 508 electric multiple units from Regional Railways . It also inherited
760-615: The Merseyrail Electrics franchise from January 1997 until July 2003, when the Merseyrail railway franchise was transformed into the local Merseyrail concession, owned by the Merseyrail Passenger Transport Executive ( Merseytravel ). The Merseyrail Electrics franchise was awarded by the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising to MTL with operations commencing on 19 January 1997. MTL retained
798-736: The Merseyrail network, the decision was taken to remove it from the national framework and bring it into local control. As a result, using the Merseyrail Electrics Network Order 2002 the Secretary of State for Transport exempted the system from being designated as a railway franchise under the privatisation legislation (the Railways Act 1993 ). This allowed the PTE to contract out the lines themselves, which it did with Merseyrail operated by Serco-Abellio commencing
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#1732773147399836-584: The Transport Act 1985 forced them to separate their bus operations into new arms lengths companies. These were called PTC's which were all sold off by the mid 1990s. The PTE's were also stripped of their powers to regulate the fares and timetables of private bus operators. A number of changes to PTE/As were made under the Local Transport Act 2008 . The main changes made were: The integrated transport authorities (ITAs) from 2008 onwards are
874-527: The West of England. PTEG's main tasks were facilitating the exchange of knowledge and good practice within the PTE network, and raising awareness nationally about the key transport challenges which face the city regions, and the public transport solutions which PTEs are implementing. PTEG's strategy and policy was determined by the Directors General of the PTEs, who met every quarter. It administered
912-988: The Wirral only. The PTE also had significant involvement in the operation of Crosville and Ribble garages on Merseyside too. Similar arrangements also existed with Lancashire United Transport / Greater Manchester Transport and Warrington Borough Transport from services connecting Merseyside with Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire. After deregulation, the Merseyside Transport operations were branded as Merseybus , and were subsequently privatised as MTL . The previous co-ordination of Merseyside's bus network disappeared as Crosville, Ribble, now known as North Western and Greater Manchester's GM Buses , became competitors of Merseybus, along with new entrants like CMT Buses, Fareway, Halton Transport , Liverbus, Liverline, PMT's Red Rider , Village Group, and other smaller operators. Merseyside's popular bus corridors became
950-485: The bodies which administer the executives; they are made up of councillors representing the areas served by the PTEs. They are responsible for funding the PTEs, and making the policies which the PTEs carry out on their behalf. PTEs secure services on behalf of the ITA but it is the ITA that pays for them. In the six metropolitan counties, councillors are appointed to the ITAs or the transport committees of combined authorities by
988-655: The body responsible in the county of Merseyside for providing and funding concessionary travel for the elderly and disabled, through the English National Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme . For those not at the present Pension age, but over the former applicable ages of 60 and 65, for men and women respectively, Merseytravel are funded to operate a localised version of the scheme. 53°24′13.9″N 2°59′33.9″W / 53.403861°N 2.992750°W / 53.403861; -2.992750 Passenger transport executive In
1026-475: The combined area and combined authority. This happened in Greater Manchester on 1 April 2011 and happened in three other integrated transport areas from 1 April 2014: to become the larger Liverpool City Region, as well as Sheffield City Region, and West Yorkshire combined areas. In South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and West Midlands, the PTE has been absorbed into the combined authority, and is no longer
1064-442: The former region of Strathclyde , which includes the urban area around Glasgow . All of Scotland is now divided into partnership areas for Transport. A similar body, Transport for London , exists in Greater London . In shire county areas, similar functions are carried out by county councils . Arriva Trains Merseyside Arriva Trains Merseyside was a train operating company in England owned by Arriva that operated
1102-540: The franchise contract was MTL , originally the operating arm of the PTE, but privatised itself in 1985. It traded under the Merseyrail Electrics brand, but after MTL was sold to Arriva , the company was rebranded Arriva Trains Merseyside from 27 April 2001. When the franchise came up for renewal, reflecting the exclusive nature of the two lines - being largely isolated from the rest of the National Rail network and with no through passenger services to/from outside
1140-500: The late 1960s by the Transport Act 1968 as transport authorities serving large conurbations , by the then transport minister Barbara Castle . Prior to this, public transport was run by individual local authorities and private companies, with little co-ordination. The PTEs took over municipal bus operations from individual councils, and became responsible for managing local rail networks. The 1968 Act created five PTE/As. These were: Initially they covered slightly different areas from
1178-538: The multimillion project will “ensure that the iconic Ferry Cross the Mersey will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.” The new ferry will be designed and constructed by Birkenhead shipbuilder Cammell Laird and is due to launch in 2026. Merseytravel are responsible for the management of local, reduced cost, integrated ticketing systems, and as part of this issue the ITSO -compatible MetroCard smartcard, on to which certain local travel passes are loaded. They are also
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1216-532: The ones covered by integrated transport authorities today. Local government in England was re-organised in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 . The re-organisation created the six metropolitan counties , and the existing four English PTEs were named after, and made to match the borders of the new counties (for example West Midlands PTE was expanded to take on Coventry and Tyneside PTE expanded to include Sunderland becoming Tyne and Wear PTE in
1254-633: The process). In addition to this, two new PTEs were created for the newly established metropolitan counties of South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire . The 1974 reorganisation also abolished the PTAs, and their role was taken over by the Metropolitan county councils (MCCs). However, when the MCCs were abolished in 1986, the PTAs were re-created. Local government re-organisation in Scotland in 1975 created
1292-490: The region of Strathclyde , and the existing Greater Glasgow PTE was named after, and made to cover the new region. PTAs were recreated by the Local Government Act 1985 when the metropolitan county councils were abolished. The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 had the same effect in the Strathclyde Region. Until the mid-1980s the PTEs operated bus services in their areas, but bus deregulation by
1330-458: The role of PTEs in the franchising process has altered due by the 2005 Railways Act. From 11 December 2004, the NWRR franchise was merged into a new Northern franchise and operated by Northern Rail . The Merseyrail Class 142 units were repainted into Northern Rail livery. On 1 April 2016, the franchise was taken over by Arriva Rail North . Prior to the Transport Act 1985 , which nationally mandated
1368-583: Was created. It was later renamed the Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority and composed 18 councillors assembled from Merseyside's five districts: Liverpool , Knowsley , St Helens , Sefton and Wirral . On 1 April 2014, the Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority was abolished and reformed as the Merseytravel Committee of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority . The transport authority area
1406-488: Was required by the Monopolies & Mergers Commission to divest some of its Liverpool operations, which are now operated by Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire . There are also smaller Merseyside operators like Cumfybus and HTL Buses . Today, Merseytravel is also responsible for providing bus services which are considered socially necessary but are not profitable; these are operated by other operators, using
1444-540: Was responsible for day-to-day operation of transport services. In 1974, when the transport organisation's boundaries were made co-extensive with the new metropolitan county of Merseyside which was formally created by the Local Government Act 1972 , the authority was composed of 23 councillors of the new Merseyside County Council . When the metropolitan county councils were abolished by the Local Government Act 1985 , new structures had to be created. A new joint board - again called The Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority -
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