Metro mayor orders review over rail disruption

Transport bosses have been told improvements are needed "fast"

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has ordered an investigation into rail disruption which saw services suspended and left passengers stranded due to the cold weather.

The Liverpool City Region (LCR) Combined Authority leader has commissioned an independent and rapid review into cancellations and delays on the Merseyrail network earlier and told transport bosses improvements were needed "fast".

He said the chaos came despite "repeated assurances" from Merseyrail and Network Rail they had "robust plans winter plans in place".

He said the findings from the review would be reported at next month's LCR Combined Authority meeting.

In a statement he said: "I have commissioned an independent and rapid review into this week's disruption... public transport is about people, and it must work for them - no excuses."

He added the authority would also be summoning representatives from Network Rail, Merseysrail and train manufacturer Stadler to the next transport committee meeting on 30 January "to account for the disruption".

Phil James, North West route director for Network Rail, said the company was "sorry" to everyone who had been affected by the "poor performance of the railway".

He added: "The freezing temperatures and repeated snowfall has frozen the third rail meaning trains cannot draw enough power to operate. This has led to delays, cancellations and some trains being stranded.

"We put a lot of effort into preparing for bad weather but clearly in this instance we are not performing as we should. We are working hard now to understand why this is and look forward to working with the independent review called for by the mayor."

Merseyrail has been contacted by the BBC for comment.