Original text of this document

2001-07-05 Meeting with John Robinson (Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions)

2001-10-07 Railtrack placed in administration (Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions)

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date 3 September 2002
source Strategic Rail Authority
type Press release

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), Merseytravel, Angel Trains Ltd. and Arriva
Trains Merseyside have signed a deal to refurbish the rolling stock for
Merseyrail Electrics services. The deal will deliver £32m of private sector
investment in the railways in the North West. Passenger benefits include
refurbished interiors and performance boosts from engineering modifications.
The refurbishment, to be carried out by Alstom and Rail Door Solutions,
begins immediately - with the first refurbished unit in service in Spring 2003.
The programme of improvements will be complete by late 2004.

Nick Newton, the SRA's Chief Operating Officer, said:
"The deal is the result of cross-industry working from Merseytravel, the SRA,
Angel and Arriva and is based on clear aims and sound common sense.
Private sector investment is important and will deliver real benefits for
Merseyside passengers."

Chair of Merseytravel, Mark Dowd, described the deal as a landmark for
Merseyside's public transport system:

"This deal means a real improvement in the levels of comfort and reliability
that passengers can expect, and demand, on local train services." He added:
"We need to see a sea change in local transport and this is what we are
striving for. We can assure the public we are doing everything we can to
achieve a better railway. We are extremely grateful to the Minister for
Transport John Spellar for his enlightened attitude to public transport and in
particular on Merseyside."

Notes to Editors

1. The Merseyrail Electrics franchise includes passenger rail services
between Liverpool and Southport, Ormskirk, Kirkby, Hunts Cross, New
Brighton, West Kirby, Chester and Ellesmere Port. The services are currently
operated by Arriva Trains Merseyside, the greater part of which are supported
by, and operate to the specification of, Merseytravel (the Merseyside PTA and
PTE).

2. A Parliamentary Order is being taken forward for the Merseyrail Electrics
services to be exempt from the SRA's franchise responsibilities, allowing
Merseytravel to let the services as a local concession. The SRA and
Merseytravel are jointly running a competition to select an operator for the
Merseyrail Electrics services from the expiry of the current Arriva Trains
Merseyside franchise.

Railhub Archive ::: 2002-09-03 SRA-001