As well as the ambitious plans for the rail network, Liverpool also has plans for a new form of public transport, dubbed the ‘trackless tram’ or ‘glider,’ which aims to connect Liverpool Airport, Anfield, and other vital parts of the city.
For a while now, transportation leaders have sought innovative solutions to efficiently move large numbers of people to destinations not currently well-served by public transit.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, vying for a third term in May’s elections, has promised to expand the Merseyrail train network. His plans include constructing new stations at Woodchurch in Wirral, Carr Mill in St Helens, and Daresbury in Halton.
Launching his reelection campaign, Mayor Rotheram pledged to introduce a trackless tram network similar to Belfast’s Glider system if he wins another term. The Belfast Glider, initiated in 2018, enhanced mass transit in the Northern Irish capital with two routes spanning 15.2 miles, utilising dedicated bus lanes and mixed traffic lanes, at a total cost of approximately £100 million.
During his campaign speech, Mayor Rotheram outlined potential routes and the timeline for implementing the trackless tram network in the Liverpool City Region.
He said: “If I’m re-elected, we will introduce a trackless tram network – similar to the Belfast Glider. A new rapid transit system that could expand and extend to other areas of the region.
“New services will run between Liverpool City Centre and Liverpool John Lennon Airport and to both Anfield and the new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock for the Euros in 2028. They will carry more passengers – and deliver express services – cutting down on journey times – offering a sleek, modern way of getting around.”