Government to inject £1.6bn into transport projects in Liverpool city region including ‘Glider’ buses that will operate ‘rapid transport routes’ to the city’s two football stadiums and Liverpool Airport and three new Merseyrail stations. Tony McDonough reports
£100m plans for three rapid transport routes linking Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Anfield Stadium Everton’s new stadium are set to become a reality.
Liverpool city region has secured £1.6bn from the Government for new transport schemes as part of its five-year-settlement allocation, from 2027/28 to 2031/32. This includes £100m for three new bus rapid transit routes and three new Merseyrail stations.
This project was first unveiled in 2024 when Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram borrowed a so-called ‘Glider’ bus from Belfast where the vehicles are already in operation.
These 18-metre, articulated vehicles can carry around 30% more passengers than an average double decker bus. They look like trams but have wheels and are designed to operate on roads, running in dedicated lanes.
They also have three sets of double doors, allowing people to board and alight much more quickly, reducing the time spent at stops. Since the Glider network began operation in Belfast in 2018 it is estimated it has replaced more than 2.5m car trips.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has also outline other projects that will benefits from this funding. At the heart of the plans is the largest-ever investment in local rail station infrastructure.
Work will now progress on three new stations – Carr Mill in St Helens, Woodchurch in Wirral, and Daresbury in Halton – alongside committed schemes at Liverpool Baltic and a redeveloped Runcorn station.
These projects are central to the city region’s ambition to expand the reach of the Merseyrail network, including new connections to Sci-Tech Dares-bury and, in the future, Wrexham.
Investment will also support the Hind Street corridor in Birkenhead, unlocking the regeneration of Wirral Waters, the Left Bank and Birkenhead town centre.
Other recent new projects include £100m for a new Merseyrail station in the Baltic district, a 58-strong fleet of electric buses costing more than £30m and a new Mersey Ferry, currently being built at Cammell Laird, with a price tag of £26m.
Mr Rotheram said: “This is a massive vote of confidence in our region and shows what’s possible when national and local governments pull in the same direction.
“With £1.6bn coming our way, we can get on with building the kind of transport network people here deserve: new train stations, a rapid transit system, and a bus service run for people, not profit.
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“It’s not just about better connections; good transport is a real engine of growth. It helps people get to work, supports new homes and businesses, and builds the foundations of a fairer, more productive economy.
“With a chancellor who’s willing to back our ambition, we’ve now got the funding to make it happen.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is announcing the transport funding at an event in Manchester on Wednesday. Paul Cherpeau, chief executive of Liverpool Chamber, added: “The commitment of funding to new transit routes linking three major sites in the Liverpool city region is obviously welcome news for local businesses.
“The improved connection to Liverpool John Lennon Airport is especially crucial as it prioritises a key strategic transport asset for our city region, within the context of a wider need for greater airport connectivity.
“Understandably, the memories of previous stalled and cancelled infrastructure projects linger long in the minds of business owners, so this announcement must be followed up with decisive and tangible action that wipes away any scepticism and allows us all to see that the promise is becoming a reality.”