David Humphreys

Merseyrail services in the Liverpool City Region will return to public control when the current concession ends in 2028, after regional leaders concluded that public ownership offers the best option for strategic oversight and community-focused service planning. Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and Liverpool Council leader Liam Robinson welcomed the shift, framing it as a historic step toward a transport system operating in the public interest. Transition plans will involve workforce transfers, organisational development and ongoing engagement with employees and unions, complementing the region’s forthcoming move to public bus franchising.