00:00Trained passengers across the Liverpool City region could see significant changes over the coming years
00:05as rail services move into public ownership, alongside wider plans to reshape the region's transport network.
00:11When the current Mersey Rail concession ends in 2028, responsibility for running services
00:16will transfer to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
00:19The move follows the region's decision to bring buses back under public control
00:23with the first franchise services due to begin operating from September.
00:26Right, I believe in nationalisation, especially of the main services such as water, energy.
00:35There should never be, things like that are so vital to our survival,
00:39they should never ever have been left us at all anyway.
00:42It should be improved the service then.
00:44Yeah.
00:44Yeah, as long as it helps.
00:47Love it. I just hope I'm alive. I hope I'm still alive. Bring it on.
00:52I'm all for anything like that, yeah.
00:54Especially when we're selling them to the French, which doesn't make any sense to me.
00:58You know, we shouldn't be making money out of things that are vital to the infrastructure of our work and
01:04strength.
01:05Metro Mercy of Rotherham says bringing trains into public ownership will go further than the bus model
01:10because the Combined Authority will have ownership of the railway operation itself.
01:14He says that means decisions can be made locally with any financial surplus reinvested into improving services
01:21rather than going to private shareholders.
01:24One of the mayor's key ambitions is greater control over fares, allowing prices to be set with passengers in mind.
01:30He also wants public transport to operate as one connected network with trains, buses, ferries and future rapid transit services
01:38all using the same smart ticketing system, making journeys across the city region easier and more convenient.
01:45Countries where they're better than us, like, they have, like, free travel and they just check it out the rates.
01:50No, this is where we should be heading, not putting the price up for shareholders.
01:55We only pay two quid here, thanks to, I don't know who the guy was or whoever it was, but
01:59two pounds.
02:01Bring it on, Andy lad, please.
02:03Seems all right at the moment, isn't it?
02:05Well, we only get the train now and again.
02:07Now and again, but not like everyday users.
02:09If you've got it every day, then you would know the problems in the system.
02:14Mr Rotherham believes the railway should continue to be the backbone of the region's transport system,
02:19pointing out that a single train can carry around 800 passengers, particularly on busy match days,
02:24reducing pressure on roads and bus services.
02:27He also says public ownership will create opportunities to expand rail services beyond the existing Mersey Rail network
02:34because the region's new trains can operate away from the traditional third rail system.
02:39He believes they could eventually serve communities that are not currently connected to the network.
02:43He also says local ownership would allow the combined authority to bid to operate services beyond its present boundaries
02:49under the Metro Rail brand.
02:52The plans build on the introduction of the region's new fleet of trains, which began entering service in 2023.
02:57Thank you so much for joining us today.
02:58See you later.
02:58One sort of time volume.
02:58One sort of time volume.
02:58One sort of time volume.
02:58One number and twenty-three.
