THE next stage of a major overhaul to transport across the Liverpool City Region has been unveiled with the proposed rapid transit “Glider.”
As part of his manifesto to win a third term, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram pledged to introduce a rapid transit bus system to serve key routes across the area.
For the first time, the vehicle has been revealed – on loan from Belfast and decked out in Merseytravel yellow – as tests begin to see how it could work across hotspots throughout the city region, which includes a roadshow event in St Helens.
READ > Plans to convert St Helens town centre offices into flats
The ten-wheeled vehicle, first dubbed a trackless tram, will undergo tests throughout Liverpool to begin with, to establish key changes that may need to be made to the city’s infrastructure with a view to a full roll out by 2028.
The system will be similar to Belfast’s Glider, which launched in the Northern Irish capital in 2018 and runs on two separate lines using dedicated and mixed traffic lanes.
The scheme cost around £100m in total. Earlier this year, Mr Rotheram said he envisaged the rapid transit network running between Liverpool city centre and Liverpool Airport as well as Anfield Stadium and Everton’s new Bramley-Moore Dock ground. It is hoped to be a transport fixture of the City Region by the time EURO 2028 rolls around, in which Liverpool will play a significant part.
On a brisk, windy morning outside the Liverpool FC club shop, we got our first glimpse of the new unit, mocked up in the classic Merseytravel livery. The Metro Mayor explained what people could expect in four years’ time.
He said: “I think they’ll see what it’s all about because it’s linear in its configuration.
"It’s not like a double decker bus, it takes a third more than a double decker bus in passenger numbers, it’s fully accessible and it’s got a configuration where it’s got accessibility for people with disabilities, space for wheelchairs, so the whole thing is exactly what we’re looking for as a part solution to the transport problems we have, at certain times, at certain events, we have to get people away very quickly and these with 105 people on it could be part of that mix that we need.”
The Glider would be the latest stage in changes to the public transport network across the city region following the investment in electric and hydrogen buses, as well as the £500m new fleet of Merseyrail trains. It is hoped it would help increase capacity to provide public transport links to John Lennon Airport where current offers can’t reach.
Mr Rotheram said: “It will be tap and go, you can alight in three different parts, there’s loads of space. One of the areas we’re looking at potentially running to is the airport so there’s room for baggage and luggage.
“The whole thing is so that we can get more people on more quickly, that saves time on the overall journey, so if you’re saving a minute or two on every single stop, you can see how much more quickly that will make the journey time. Also, there won’t be the driver having to wait for passengers to find £2 or whatever it will be.
“We’re looking at an express service so it won’t stop at every bus stop so you’ll get from the airport much more quickly and getting away from Bramley-Moore. The idea is that we’ll have some dedicated road space and some advantages on traffic signalling and that’s what this is about.”
While over from Northern Ireland, the Glider will be tested on key routes in the city region, allowing the Combined Authority if changes need to be made to accommodate the vehicles.
The vehicle will be on display to the public throughout this week as part of a roadshow taking place across the city region, with people being asked to provide their feedback on the vehicle and plans for new rapid transit links.
Roadshow events are being held at the below locations on the following dates:
- Monday 19 August – Anfield Stadium 08:00am-11:30am, Liverpool John Lennon Airport (pm) 12:30pm-03:00pm
- Tuesday 20 August – Seacombe Ferry Terminal – 09:00am-03:00pm
- Wednesday 21 August – Mann Island – 09:00am-03:00pm
- Thursday 22 August – St Helens Town Centre – 09:00am-03:00pm
- Friday 23 August – Green Oaks Shopping Centre, Widnes – 09:00am-03:00pm
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel