Merseyrail is UK's first fully-secured network - 6th Jan 2009 7:07pm
Merseyrail has become the country's first fully secure network.
All 66 stations have now been awarded the coveted “secure station” status after visits by the British Transport Police on behalf of the Department for Transport in association with Crime Concern.
Councillor Mark Dowd, chairman of Merseytravel and a member of the TravelSafe board, said: “This is a unique achievement which will be welcomed by the growing number of passengers who use the network every year.
“They can do so in the knowledge that they are travelling on one of the UK’s safest rail networks.”
Neil Scales, chief executive and director general of Merseytravel, said: “This is yet another historic milestone in the progress of Merseyrail Electrics since we took control five and a half years ago as part of our overall strategy to provide a single integrated transport network that is accessible to everyone.”
Bart Schmeink, Merseyrail’s managing director said: “When others in the rail industry told us that it was impossible to have our entire network accredited as secure, we decided that we would prove them wrong – and we have proved in other areas such as our pioneering approach to anti-social behaviour on trains.”
Having gained secure station status the network will be regularly re-assessed to ensure that high standards are maintained.
Tough industry standards evaluate safety measures including CCTV, design standards of both buildings and facilities and the quality of customer service.
Merseytravel and Merseyrail worked with British Transport Police and Carlisle Security on the achievement.
All 66 stations have now been awarded the coveted “secure station” status after visits by the British Transport Police on behalf of the Department for Transport in association with Crime Concern.
Councillor Mark Dowd, chairman of Merseytravel and a member of the TravelSafe board, said: “This is a unique achievement which will be welcomed by the growing number of passengers who use the network every year.
“They can do so in the knowledge that they are travelling on one of the UK’s safest rail networks.”
Neil Scales, chief executive and director general of Merseytravel, said: “This is yet another historic milestone in the progress of Merseyrail Electrics since we took control five and a half years ago as part of our overall strategy to provide a single integrated transport network that is accessible to everyone.”
Bart Schmeink, Merseyrail’s managing director said: “When others in the rail industry told us that it was impossible to have our entire network accredited as secure, we decided that we would prove them wrong – and we have proved in other areas such as our pioneering approach to anti-social behaviour on trains.”
Having gained secure station status the network will be regularly re-assessed to ensure that high standards are maintained.
Tough industry standards evaluate safety measures including CCTV, design standards of both buildings and facilities and the quality of customer service.
Merseytravel and Merseyrail worked with British Transport Police and Carlisle Security on the achievement.