Responding to the news that train operators will leave schedules unchanged to avoid repeat the chaos brought about by the May timetable, Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of Liverpool City Region, said:

“The disruption caused by the introduction of the new timetable in May has had a huge and ongoing impact on businesses and individuals and we cannot see that chaos repeated when the timetable is changed again in December.

“However, this approach means that we have effectively lost a year of improvements, some of which include new routes, not just timetable amendments, and suggests that the government has lost confidence in Network Rail’s ability to deliver long-term infrastructure schemes.

“That is not acceptable and we need Government to explain how it will deliver the improvements we need.

“My most pressing priorities remain that the current service be improved and an appropriate compensation scheme be put in place.”