As the costs of the new trains rise, Merseytravel’s lawyers buy drinks and you’re paying for it (as well as taxis, wi-fi on trains and other expenses)!
As the costs of the new trains rise, Merseytravel’s lawyers buy drinks and you’re paying for it (as well as taxis, wi-fi on trains and other expenses)!
2 further days of strike action on Merseyrail network in October by RMT over driver only operated trains
2 further days of strike action on Merseyrail network in October by RMT over driver only operated trains
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced further strike action on the Merseyrail network. Drivers and guards will be on strike on the 3rd October 2017 and 5th October 2017.
RMT stated that it was angry and frustrated that Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Mayor Steve Rotheram had refused to put pressure on Merseyrail to resolve the dispute.
At a meeting of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority last week (which is chaired by Mayor Steve Rotheram) the industrial dispute between Merseyrail and the RMT was discussed towards the end of a Merseyrail Update item.
Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.
Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.
Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.
Various proposals made by the RMT, such as increasing fares to cover the cost of the guards when the new trains are introduced or Merseytravel paying for the salaries of the guards were rejected.
If you click on any of the buttons below, you’ll be doing me a favour by sharing this article with other people.
3 further days of strike action on Merseyrail network over driver only operated trains
3 further days of strike action on Merseyrail network over driver only operated trains
Talks between the RMT union, LCRCA Mayor Steve Rotheram, Cllr Liam Robinson and Frank Rogers have not averted three days of strike action on the Merseyrail network planned for Friday 1st September, Sunday 3rd September and Monday 4th September.
The dispute is about the introduction of trains in 2020 which will be operated solely by a driver rather than a driver and a guard.
Trains will not be running between Hooton and Ellesmere Port on the three strike days.
What are Merseytravel’s legal fees to defend a legal challenge to the £272 million rolling stock contract?
What are Merseytravel’s legal fees to defend a legal challenge to the £272 million rolling stock contract?
During the 2016-17 audit (which covers the start of April 2016 to the end of March 2017), I requested to inspect various invoices paid by Merseytravel and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and have since picked up copies from their headquarters.
In December 2016, a large rolling stock contract (for new trains) was agreed by councillors on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to be awarded to Stadler Bussnang AG. Stadler Bussnang AG will charge £272,424,952.00 for the new trains.
An unsuccessful bidder (Bombardier) brought a challenge to how the procurement decision had been arrived at and large invoices for legal work from DLA Piper UK LLP have been submitted to Merseytravel’s Rolling Stock Director (David Powell).
The thumbnails of invoices below each link to a higher resolution image for the same invoice.
Invoice 413 from DLA Piper UK LLP (invoice 54833489) dated 31st January 2017 is for £231,124.96. This is for the matter, “Fleet Replacement Project”. This is broken down to “To our fees for professional services” of £187,013.80 + VAT, followed by the following expenses, search fees (£2.00 + VAT), subsistence (£152.68 + VAT), travel (£5,195.65 + VAT) and Vroom Plus (£240 + VAT).