'Keep our train station open at weekend'

Hundreds of people have demanded assurances over the future of a train station in the south of Liverpool which closed on two Saturdays before Christmas last year have demanded

More than 500 people have signed a petition to keep Cressington station open, after it shut on 6 and 20 December last year, both busy days on which Everton played at home.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Grassendale and Cressington, Richard Clein said: "They say they did inform people, but they certainly didn't inform me and residents didn't seem to know much about it. "

Merseyrail said there were no plans to permanently close the station but during major events, like match days, services are busy and sometimes timetables are altered.

He presented a petition at the Liverpool City Region Transport Committee meeting on Thursday.

Clein said: "As far as I am concerned, the campaign to keep Cressington station open on Saturdays continues."

He said he first heard about the Saturday closures when he was contacted by local residents who had not been told about the plans.

"It closed on 6 December and then again on 20 December, which I would say was the busiest Saturday of last year.

"I didn't get any answers from Merseyrail so I started a petition.

"They say they did inform people, but they certainly didn't inform me and residents didn't seem to know much about it. Clearly more needs to be done to let people know.

"I presented the petition which has got 556 signatories, so it is a large number of people.

"The chairman [Councillor Steve Foulkes] said clearly any disruption is regretted.

"He did say there had been concern that it was Merseyrail trying to close the station in future - which he made clear there are no plans to close the station.

"But he couldn't confirm there wouldn't be any more disruption."

Greg Suligowski from Merseyrail said station closures were sometimes made to help customers travel safely and easily across the network.

"This can involve changes to train times at Cressington station or, when very large passenger numbers are expected, replacement buses operating instead of trains," he said.

"We work closely with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and other partners as part of wider event transport planning.

"We also ensure these changes are clearly communicated in advance through station posters, social media updates, and announcements across our network.

Clein added: "We accept there will be disruption but it is about letting people know and allowing people to be able to make other arrangements.

"People will be relieved that there are no plans to close the station for good, but there is no confirmation that it wont be closed on Saturdays in the future."

The Lib Dem said there was a "wider point" as at a full council meeting on Wednesday, The Green Party put forward a motion which received cross party support to bring Merseyrail back into public control.

That is something the leader of the UK's main transport union Mick Lynch has called for previously.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said in March "all options are being explored" about the future of the rail service.

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