The Strategic Rail Authority has handed over responsibility for overseeing the Merseyrail franchise to the local passenger transport authority.

The transfer of control is the first of its kind in Britain.

Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority will be able to decide what level of service is provided and will be able to set penalties if standards are not maintained.

Arriva Trains Merseyside holds the franchise until February next year but the new franchise is to be extended from a seven-year term to 25 years, long enough for an operator to recover any investment in new train.

The train company chosen by the PTA will be named in December and the franchise will be reviewed every five years and cancelled if the operator is unsatisfactory.

Merseytravel is currently carrying out a public consultation of 6,000 people to find out what kind of service the public wants.

Further improvements should come when trams return to Merseyside, probably in 2004. Liverpool City Council is considering banning cars from Dale Street and Lime Street to make way for the trams.

Information from the Liverpool Daily Post.