• All electric ‘glider’ to be tested on region’s roads this month
• Vehicles carry 120 passengers – 30% more than a double decker bus
• Fully operational system linking city centre, airport and football stadia targeted by 2028

A second rapid transit vehicle will begin road testing in the Liverpool City Region this month, as part of Mayor Steve Rotheram’s pledge to roll out a new fleet of high capacity ‘gliders’ across the region by the end of 2028.

On loan from Spanish manufacturer Irizar, the 18-metre battery-powered vehicle, wrapped in the region’s Metro livery, follows last year’s initial trial using a Translink vehicle from Belfast.

‘Irizar ie tram’ similar to the vehicle which will be undertaking road trials in the Liverpool City Region

This new test will see the vehicle operate on key commuter routes, helping to gather feedback from passengers and assess performance in real-world conditions to help shape the design of the city region’s own fleet, with insights from both passengers and road testing feeding directly into future procurement.

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said: “This is a big moment on our journey to build the modern, reliable transport system that our area’s needed for decades.

“When I talk about a ‘London-style’ network, I mean a system that’s joined-up, easy to use, and where you don’t have to think twice about how you’re getting from A to B. That’s the standard people in our region should expect too – not just those in the capital.

“For too long, places like ours have been treated as an afterthought when it comes to transport funding and infrastructure. But we’ve secured £1.6bn from government – and we’re putting it to work, building a system that actually works for the 1.6 million people who live here.

“These gliders are a glimpse of that future – clean, spacious, accessible – and they’ll help people get to work, to training, or to the match, without having to rely on a car.

“I’ve made a clear commitment to have services running between the city centre, airport and both our football grounds by 2028 – and this trial is another big step towards making that promise a reality.”

The gliders offer 30% more capacity than a standard double decker bus, with two sets of double doors to speed up boarding and alighting. Features like level access and off-vehicle ticketing are designed to reduce dwell time and improve journey times – offering an attractive alternative the car.

Fully integrated with the city region’s wider public transport system, the new service will link with bus, rail and active travel routes, funded as part of a record breaking £1.6bn transport settlement secured by the Mayor from national government.

Route planning is already underway for Phase 1, with links to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Anfield and the Hill Dickinson Stadium prioritised. Over time, the network could be extended to other areas not currently served by the rail network, helping to better connect communities right across the region.

Similar rapid transit systems already operate successfully in cities such as Amiens, Barcelona, Toronto and Los Angeles, with more on the way in Porto and Brisbane. The Liverpool City Region is now firmly on track to join them.

While the public won’t be able to travel on the vehicle during testing, residents are being encouraged to experience the look and feel of the gliders for themselves and provide feedback.

A public drop-in session will be held at 1 Mann Island on Wednesday 23 July, from 10:00 to 16:00.