 A MERSEYSIDE MP last night demanded an inquiry into major disruptions to Liverpool’s train services which rail bosses have admitted will hit the city throughout its Capital of Culture Year. Exasperated rail users on the Liverpool to London West Coast main line have been forced to take two-hour detours on coaches supplied by Virgin Trains to complete their journey, and the problems are set to continue. Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, Louise Ellman, has vowed the rail “fiasco” is to be raised as “a matter of the utmost urgency” in the Commons as soon as Parliament returns from its Christmas break next Monday. Mrs Ellman, who is a senior member of the influential Common Transport Select Committee, said she would be calling for an urgent inquiry into what had happened. “I shall also be demanding an explanation and an apology,” she said. “This is a completely unacceptable, a fiasco which has caused massive inconven-ience to thousands of people. “We do not want to return to the bad old days of Railtrack when work was uncoordinated and the tracks sank into disrepair. “The thousands of people who have been inconvenienced and will continue to be inconvenienc-ed deserve a full explanation and an apology..” The rail problems surround Network Rail’s £415m remodelling of lines and bridges in Rugby – due to end four days ago. Network Rail’s director of operations Robin Gisby yesterday admitted more work will take place at night, over weekends and during holidays, such as Easter, right until December 08. The current work – which was due to be complete before New Year’s Eve – is now not scheduled to end until 5am tomorrow, leaving Virgin Trains urging its Liverpool to London passengers to take detours via Sheffield. Network Rail spokesman Keith Lumley said: “We’re not putting a time and date on this phase of the works because of the uncertainty involved in a project of this size. “The critical issue is a shortage of specialist engineering and con-tractor staff necessary to rebuild the overhead electrification. “We have brought in additional manpower to get the project completed and continue to work flat out to restore a full service as soon as possible.” The work is being timed to meet Virgin Train’s new Very High Frequency service but many are concerned at the timing, with thousands of tourists expected to come to the city via the capital for 2008’s celebrations. Cllr Mike Storey, Liverpool’s executive member for regenera-tion, said: “It is particularly unfortunate this should happen at the start of the Capital of Culture year. We recognise the West Coast main line needs work, but any delays are not only frustrating for travellers but damaging to the North West economy. “We urge Network Rail to pull out all the stops and get this work finished as quickly as possible.” Cllr Flo Clucas, executive member economic development and Europe, added: “Two million visitors are expected and that should be a boost for the economy from pubs to restaurateurs and it should be changing the image of the city. It’s appalling.” The travel problems will be compounded by works on the biggest motorway link into Liverpool, the M62, where a new “spaghetti junction” at Tarbock Island will take shape during Capital of Culture year. Virgin, a partner in Liverpool’s 08 celebrations, has pushed for an urgent investigation. Virgin’s Jim Rowe said: “Both these over-runs are completely unacceptable and that’s why we’ve gone to The Office of Rail Regulation to investigate.. “This must not happen again.” Virgin said they had lost all faith in Network Rail to meet its promises, meaning uncertainty looms over the links to the city in its showcase year. Virgin Trains chief executive Tony Collins said: “This has been a fiasco and our customers expect and deserve better.” Later, Network Rail said a further update on when services would resume on the West Coast line would be available today. Services to and from Liverpool Street on West Anglia and Stans-ted Express routes were to resume for this evening’s rush-hour. But suburban services were continuing to terminate at Stratford station in east London. A full service was expected to run from tomorrow morning. ‘It will be for the best, but you can’t improve without some disruption’ >>> | 
