Southport will receive £50,000 to offset the economic impact of the Northern Rail debacle, thanks to an intervention from Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region.

At a meeting of the Transport for the North board, which was open to the public, Metro Mayor Rotheram called for Southport to be included in the compensation package scheme.

The final compensation scheme, agreed by Transport for the North, and paid for by Northern, will go to areas across the North that have suffered economically as a result of rail disruption following the introduction of a new timetable.

Speaking about the announcement, Steve Rotheram said:

“The recent disruption on our rail system has affected a huge number of individuals across our city region and I am continuing to lobby for them to be properly compensated.

“The same disruption has had a serious impact on businesses across the North West. That is why I have repeatedly made the argument to Transport for the North that Southport must be included in any compensation package.

“I am very pleased that, as a result of that lobbying, Southport will now receive £50,000. We will pass that compensation on to Sefton Council so that Marketing Southport can use the money as they see fit to attract visitors to the resort.”

Since the new timetable was introduced in May, the Manchester to Southport line has been one of most seriously affected services in the North, with significant numbers of services cancelled or delayed.