Pundits lambast Merseytravel after about face on ‘vertical integration’ of rail

The ‘blame’ for the break down of discussions that had been expected to lead to Integrated Transport Authority Merseytravel taking control of both trains and tracks in its area was firmly laid at the feet of the rail trade unions by local papers and industry pundits.

Rik Thomas

15 July 2011

Mark Dowd

The decision by Merseytravel chair Mark Dowd to shelve plans for the vertical integration of Merseyrail has, according to The Liverpool Echo, “set Merseytravel at odds with its own chief executive, Neil Scales”

The announcement that Merseytravel has withdrawn from long-running talks about taking over the management of its local rail infrastructure was not well received by local paper The Liverpool Echo, which described the decision as “a massive U-turn in transport policy” on 29 June. “The vote sets Merseytravel at odds with its own chief executive, Neil Scales, who has long been a champion of owning the track locally, believing it would drive down costs and lead to a better...