This, in the Liverpool Daily Post says that transport chiefs in Merseyside are lobbying for control of the railway tracks. Apparently they’ve been pushing for the past two years for this, and despite the headline, it doesn’t look like there’s been much movement forward in the idea. However, it seems that Merseyrail are still pushing for it. And good on them for trying.

The only way that sub-regional areas will get the railways that they need is if there is control at the sub-regional level. It would make perfect sense for Merseyrail to take control of the lines – in exactly the same way that it would make sense for GMPTE to control the Greater Manchester side (and while we’re at it, a Lancashire Passenger Transport Executive would be good!)

Of course we then get back to the wider city-region / metropolitan county council debate, but that’s not a bad thing. Where there is sub-regional decision making, there should be appropriate representation.

In the meantime, good luck to Merseyrail.