During a cold snap in January as snow and ice appeared across Merseyside, services across the train network were completely suspended for a number of hours, leaving commuters stranded.
00:00Improved batteries, better messaging and a greater number of replacement buses are being laid on to ensure Merseysrail can cope with this winter's cold weather.
00:10During a cold snap in January as snow and ice appeared across Merseyside, services across the train network were completely suspended for a number of hours,
00:18leaving commuters stranded and trying to find other ways to get to work or around the region.
00:22As part of the inquest into what went wrong, Vernon Everett, Greater Manchester's Transport Commissioner,
00:30was asked by Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham to produce an independent assessment of the network and how issues could be fixed.
00:39With winter on the horizon, rail chiefs have given an update on how they're getting ready to deal with decreasing temperatures in the months ahead.
00:47Bosses warned there'd be no quick fix for a cold snap, but a number of solutions were being implemented to improve resilience of the network during bad weather.
00:56Mr Everett made six findings and nine recommendations on how performance can be improved moving forward.
01:02Simon Finney, the combined authority's head of network performance, admitted there was no quick fix to address the issues Mr Everett established in April,
01:10but Mr Finney added one option being considered was the use of trains overnight to keep rails from icing over.
01:19James O'Coffrey, head of programmes for train manufacturer Stadler, said the company had been working closely and proactively with partners to prepare the vehicles for the colder weather,
01:29particularly for drivers who would find themselves in a stressful and difficult situation.
01:35Contracts are also in place with the two major bus companies serving the wider city region to provide rail replacement should they be required.
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