Residents in the Liverpool City Region are being given a first look at the new vehicle that will be improving their journeys around the region, thanks to the combined authority.
This comes as Mayor Steve Rotheram has pledged to deliver new rapid transport links for communities, including connecting Liverpool with John Lennon Airport, and the city’s world-famous sporting arenas.
The new vehicle that will support these transit improvements is an articulated ‘glider’ that is able to carry around 30% more people than the average double-decker bus can and is currently on-loan from Translink in Northern Ireland. Whilst part of a 34-strong fleet, the glider has already reduced car trips in Belfast by 2.5 million, as well as reducing journey times by up to 25%, proving its benefit to communities around the city.
Whilst the current plan is for the service to only run between the airport and the football stadia, the combined authority has outlined how there is the potential for similar services to be rolled out across other parts of the city region that are not currently served by the rail network.
Commenting on the plans for improved transit, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said:
“The Liverpool City Region is a well-established – and growing – magnet for visitors from around the world with our unique mix of music, culture, hospitality and sport.
“Millions of people pass through John Lennon Airport, many of them on their way to Anfield and, in future, to Bramley Moore. But one of the things people always tell me is that they need better links to these important places.
“As part of my plans to build a London-style transport system, that is something I am committed to addressing. I was just re-elected on a promise to look at delivering a ‘glider’ style rapid link that will make getting to the airport and the football much faster, more efficient and, above all, a more pleasant travelling experience.
“This is the first time the glider will be seen on our streets – but I’ll make sure they’re up and running serving passengers in time for the Euros in 2028.
“This is not the end of the story either. I remain committed to building the world class transport system our region deserves. Having a glider doesn’t mean that we won’t one day see a tram or rail station at the airport but is an outstanding solution that will make an immediate difference to getting people around.”
Whilst the vehicle is on-loan to the combined authority, it will be tested on key routes across the city region to ensure that any potential changes can be made to further accommodate their introduction.
As the high-quality rapid transit is rolled out, communities will benefit from improved reliability and efficiency as they make journeys to the places that matter the most to them. This would also bring Liverpool in line with other cities around the world that have similar systems, including Barcelona, Toronto, and Los Angeles.
Image credit: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
