People will be able to go by rail to The Open golf championship with confidence this year thanks to rail campaigners.
After protests, Network Rail has withdrawn plans to close the line serving the Royal Liverpool Golf Club on the final day of The Open.
Wirral Transport Users Association took action after learning that Network Rail had ignored two years of planning for The Open and planned to close the line from Bidston (Birkenhead) to Wrexham from late on Saturday 22 July and all day on Sunday 23 July.
But the WTUA protested to Rail Minster Derek Twigg and alerted eight MPs as well as local councillors and the Welsh Assembly.
After “negotiations between the parties” the Department for Transport confirmed that Network rail had agreed to re-schedule its planned engineering work.
That means Arriva Train Wales can go ahead with plans to run extra and longer trains on the Sunday for passengers wanting to get to The Open.
Tony Garrett of the WTUA said: “As 5,000 visitors a day are expected to arrive for this event, having them arrive by train helps to prevent cars clogging up the Wirral and the North West.”
He said Network Rail’s suggestion to run up to 50 replacement coaches was not a viable option as they would add to road congestion.
Merseytravel officially opened Hoylake station today (12 July 2006) after spending £600,000 on restoring the art deco building to serve the visitors to The Open.
Information on rail services for The Open which starts on Sunday 16 July 2006 can be seen here:
Merseytravel