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Metro mayor orders review over rail disruption

BBC A Merseyrail black and yellow electric train on the track. A bridge over the platform can be seen above the train with a man walking across the other side. One man can be seen standing on the train platform at the bottom looking towards the train.BBC
Transport bosses have been told improvements are needed "fast"

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has ordered an investigation into rail disruption which saw services suspended and left passengers stranded due to the cold weather.

The Liverpool City Region (LCR) Combined Authority leader has commissioned an independent and rapid review into cancellations and delays on the Merseyrail network earlier and told transport bosses improvements were needed "fast".

He said the chaos came despite "repeated assurances" from Merseyrail and Network Rail they had "robust plans winter plans in place".

He said the findings from the review would be reported at next month's LCR Combined Authority meeting.

In a statement he said: "I have commissioned an independent and rapid review into this week's disruption... public transport is about people, and it must work for them - no excuses."

He added the authority would also be summoning representatives from Network Rail, Merseysrail and train manufacturer Stadler to the next transport committee meeting on 30 January "to account for the disruption".

Network Rail and Merseyrail have been contacted by the BBC for comment.

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