MERSEYRAIL and Merseytravel are increasing morning and afternoon peak hours capacity between Liverpool Central and Southport by 30 per cent and to and from Hunts Cross by 25 per cent, providing an extra 1,200 seats a week.

By bringing in and developing engineering practices to improve maintenance quality and productivity, Merseyrail’s technical teams are ensuring that five morning and evening peak trains on the Southport and Hunts Cross routes are doubled to six-car formations.

Merseyrail’s managing director, Bart Schmeink, said: “Commuting demand on our services is growing fast, and I am delighted that, with Merseytravel’s support, we have increased capacity significantly.”

Carrying around 100,000 passengers every weekday in its 780 train services, Merseyrail is one of the most intensively used networks in the UK. According to the Spring National Passenger survey, 88 per cent of those were satisfied with their service, which they rated as “good”.