Fast Facts

Merseytravel is unique in that it is currently the only combined Passenger Transport Authority (MPTA) and Executive (MPTE) in the country.

Covering the area of Merseyside - the five districts of Liverpool, Wirral, St Helens, Knowsley and Sefton - Merseytravel co-ordinates public transport, working in partnership with bus and rail operators and other partners.

Its aim is to provide a single integrated transport network, which is accessible to everyone.

• Centre of Excellence status for integrated public transport, integrated public transport planning and the delivery of public transport schemes
• It was also voted Passenger Transport Authority of the Year for 2004 and 2005.

• Merseytravel provides funding for vital public transport services that people need but which cannot be run profitably.
• Merseytravel provides, maintains and improves bus stops, shelters, stations and timetable information and staffs every bus station from when the first bus arrives until the last bus leaves.
• In recent years Merseytravel has been working with local communities, local authorities and employment services to provide subsidised services specifically to help the unemployed find jobs in areas of economic growth, even to the extent of crossing boundaries.
• Merseytravel is also working with a number of European partners in pioneering pilot projects exploring alternative fuels such as gas and electricity.
• Merseyside is only one of nine national 'trailblazers' of Clear Zones, which seek to create better urban areas where traffic congestion, noise and pollution are minimised by using innovative technology and ideas.
• As part of its commitment to the environment, Merseytravel has introduced the city centre circular CATCH (Clean Accessible Transport for Community Health) bus, which operates a circular route through all the main areas of Liverpool city centre. Funded by the European Union, the CATCH buses promote the improvement of local air quality.
• Merseytravel is also the only PTA to have received accreditation to ISO 14001 standard and has introduced an Environmental Management System, aimed at reviewing and improving, wherever possible, the environmental performance of all its operations.
• Merseytravel is currently the lead agency in the trans-national 'PARTNER Project', which looks at the development of sustainable transport across European cities.
• The fact that Merseyside's PTA and PTE are joined up means that Merseytravel can take a co-ordinated approach to tackling social exclusion. Thanks to innovative thinking and hands on community involvement Merseytravel is pioneering new methods of targeting hard to reach groups and pockets of severe deprivation in an attempt to promote and improve awareness of public transport.
• Merseytravel has a very active Community Links team, it has pioneered the TravelSafe partnership and the JobLink service and is continuing to develop new Smartcard technologies and close involvement in key partnerships (such as the Housing Market Renewal Initiative).

• The Merseyrail network covers 66 stations, with over 34 million passenger journeys being made on the network each year.
• In July 2003 Merseytravel assumed full powers over the performance, investment and consumer protection for the Merseyrail Electrics franchise. Uniquely in the UK, the Merseyrail franchise is awarded by the Merseytravel rather than the Strategic Rail Authority, because the franchise is self-contained and largely separate from the rest of the British railway network. This coincided with the letting of a unique 25-year concession to Serco NedRailways.
• Merseytravel is currently working to establish greater local control over the track and the stations through something called full local decision-making. The aim is for Merseytravel to bring the trains and the tracks together by taking over responsibility for the railway tracks, the stations and signals on Merseyrail's Wirral and Northern Lines from Network Rail.
• Recently, a programme of refurbishment of 59 trains units has been completed at a cost of more than £34million.
• Merseyrail Electrics is now regularly the best performing train-operating company in mainland UK.
• Merseytravel and Merseyrail have been very successful in the 'Secure Stations' initiative, with more than 50 per cent of all stations meeting the tough national standards.
• Merseyside also saw the first Police Community Support Officers on the rail network in the UK.

• Mersey Ferries, which are owned by Merseytravel, have been totally repositioned to become the region's most popular paid-for tourist attraction as well as a convenient way to cross the Mersey.
• Merseytravel has completed the multi-million pound refurbishment of all three ferries and is consistently developing all three ferry terminals.
• Merseytravel operates the Mersey Ferries running a daily commuter service across the River Mersey as well as very successful tourist cruises and attractions at the terminals, including the £10million 'Spaceport', the UK's latest space-themed attraction.

• Up to 95,000 vehicles per day cross under the River Mersey via the two Mersey road tunnels, which have been put on a firm financial footing by the passing of the Mersey Tunnels Act 2004.
• Merseytravel has also made the tunnel's safe environment even safer with the completion of a very important safety project in the Queensway Tunnel. The project involved the creation of a series of new escape chambers, which are available to tunnels users in the event of an incident.
• A series of Tunnel Tours have been launched for people to see the inner workings of the amazing feat of engineering, Queensway Tunnel

• Easy to use, pre-paid travel tickets;
• Free travel for the elderly or those who have long-term mobility problems or disabilities;
• The Merseylink dial-a-ride service; and
• Traveline Merseyside giving out information 364 days a year between 0800 and 2000 - 0871 200 22 33