MORE than 53,000 journeys have been taken on Merseyrail using the new contactless tap and go system in the 1st month.

Launched at the start of August 2025, Tap and Go is part of Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram's commitment to delivering a modern, affordable, and passenger 1st public transport system. The system enables passengers to simply tap in and out of stations using their MetroCard, with the confidence they'll always pay the best value fare, thanks to daily and weekly fare capping.

The rollout has been positively received by both commuters and casual travellers, with passengers citing speed, convenience, and value as major benefits. So far over 6,000 passengers have signed up to the new system with numbers rising every day.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram welcomed the early success of Tap and Go:- "This is a really good news story for everyone who travels across our Region. Tap and Go is not just faster and simpler; it's saving people money, cutting down queues, and making the whole journey experience smoother. From commuters to casual travellers, thousands of people are telling us how much easier it makes getting around. We've always been clear that we're building a modern, passenger 1st transport system, and this is exactly the kind of innovation that shows we're on the right track, with more developments to come."

Tap and Go currently operates across the Merseyrail network, with further integration planned as the Combined Authority continues its transport transformation agenda; which has included the introduction of new publicly owned battery powered trains, improved active travel infrastructure, and bus franchising.

The smart ticketing system is designed to support greater flexibility for users while removing barriers to travel. Passengers are reminded they need to tap their MetroCard, at the start and end of each journey on the platform validators, or station gates.

Neil Grabham Managing Director of Merseyrail, said:- "We're proud to celebrate the successful launch of Tap and Go, which has already been embraced by over 6,000 customers and enabled more than 50,000 journeys across the Merseyrail network. This marks a transformative moment for rail travel in the Liverpool City Region, 1 that reflects our commitment to innovation, simplicity, and putting customers 1st"

What's next for Tap and Go? Following this successful 1st month, the Combined Authority and Merseyrail will continue to promote Tap and Go across the City Region, while also working towards contactless payments using debit cards and mobile devices, along with expanding the system's reach across buses and other local transport modes in future phases. To get started, passengers can visit the Merseyrail website, or head to any staffed Merseyrail Station, where MetroCards and support will be available

School Children at Linaker Primary School in Southport transformed into pirates for the day, with a theatre trip and buried treasure.

Pupils enjoyed the School's:- 'Pirate Day,' with Year 1 and 2 children setting sail on a swashbuckling adventure.

In School, pupils worked together to follow a trail of mysterious clues, which led them to the Secret Garden. There, they unearthed some very special treasure; delicious biscuits, ready to be decorated with their own creative flair.

The adventure didn't stop there. The crew headed to The Atkinson theatre, where they joined in with the action-packed performance of Claire Freedman's book Pirates Love Underpants. With plenty of laughter, cheering and pirate fun the children joined the quest to find the golden pants treasure.

Mark Cunniffe, headteacher at Linaker Primary School, commented:- "Every pirate looked spectacular in their hats, getting into the spirit of things with gusto! It was a wonderful day, filled with laughter, teamwork and imagination; a truly unforgettable voyage for our young buccaneers."

The day, trip is 1 of a series of new initiatives at the School, including:- the introduction of a new house system for pupils to encourage friendly competition.

Every pupil belongs to:- 1 of 4 houses, within:- Botanic, Hesketh, Birkdale, or Ainsdale, each inspired by our local Southport landmarks.

Through teamwork, attendance, effort, and positive behaviour, children earn house points that contribute to weekly totals.

From sports competitions and creative challenges to academic tasks and values based activities, the system celebrates every child's strengths while building resilience, School spirit, and a strong sense of belonging.

Mark Cunniffe, headteacher at Linaker, commented:- "Whether in our pirates treasure hunt or in our new house system, it's been great to see our children embracing the spirit of friendly competition."