Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram made the announcement jointly with transport operators Arriva, Stagecoach and Merseyrail. Tony McDonough reports
All buses and trains across Liverpool city region are to be made free to use for NHS staff as they continue the battle against coronavirus.
Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram made the announcement jointly with transport operators Arriva, Stagecoach and Merseyrail. The new policy will come into effect from Friday, April 10.
NHS staff will be able to travel for free on production of a valid NHS photo staff pass as they board the bus, at Merseyrail stations or on Merseyrail trains. Mr Rotheram said: “We want to do everything we can to support our frontline NHS workers as they bravely battle the coronavirus.
“This is the latest transport measure the Combined Authority and transport operators have been able to bring forward to support use of our transport network for essential journeys, including the temporary suspension of Mersey Tunnel tolls and relaxing the rules on concessionary travel for those who absolutely have to travel for medicines and other essential items.
“The advice of course remains that people should only travel if absolutely necessary during this period of lockdown.”
Area Managing Director for Arriva Merseyside, on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Bus Alliance, Howard Farrall, added: “We ask that everybody using the bus maintains a safe two-metre distance from each other to ensure they and our drivers remain safe.”
The move has been made possible as a condition of operators continuing to receive payments made under the concessionary travel scheme, under which the number of journeys has plummeted as people adhere to the rules, stay home and make only absolutely essential journeys.
The period of free travel will be kept under review alongside other temporary transport measures implemented in response to the coronavirus crisis and during the period of lockdown.