Liverpool City Region’s ambition to create a ‘Merseyrail for All’ has taken a major step forward, with the successful testing of new battery powered trains. 

The technology could allow the Merseyrail network to extend across all six city region boroughs to places like Rainhill in St Helens, Woodchurch on the Wirral and Widnes in Halton.

The battery-powered trains, which use up to 30 per cent less energy than the existing fleet, are initially set to run on services to a planned new station at Headbolt Lane, Kirkby.

Tram-Train technology and trackless trams will also be looked at as potential means of extending the Merseyrail network into hard-to-reach places. 

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said: “For people in some parts of our region, Liverpool can feel as far away as London. I want to change that. 

“Good public transport is vital for connecting people with each other and opportunity. 

“Our region deserves what London has had for years: a transport system that is affordable, reliable and easy for people to get about. I’m working to build one and these trains are a massive part of that.”

The new trains place the Liverpool City Region at the forefront of the introduction of pioneering battery technology on passenger services.

They also put the city region in the driving seat for the decarbonisation of the rail network –aligning to the Metro Mayor’s ‘net zero carbon by 2040’ plans.