Mayor unveils great value tickets on Merseyrail services to supercharge Southport Tourism

LIVERPOOL City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has unveiled great‑value tickets on Merseyrail services to support Southport's headline events during 2026. For just �2 return for adults and �1 for children, the offer gives residents and visitors alike an easy, affordable way to reach 1 of the UK's most historic and elegantly eccentric seaside destinations from any Merseyrail Station to enjoy a spectacular line‑up of the area's biggest cultural events. In some cases, the discount represent savings of up to:- 70% when compared with standard fares, opening the door for more families, day trippers and visitors from across the City Region and beyond to enjoy what Southport has to offer.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said:- "Southport is 1 of the jewels in our Region's cultural crown. But for too long it hasn't had the attention; or ambition; it deserved. Thanks to devolution, and determined leadership from Cllr Marion Atkinson, we're now working better across all levels of government to change that. Alongside the restoration of Southport Pier, we're investing in the Town's future; from the �17m we've committed to the new Marine Lake Events Centre, to the �2.5m we're investing to transform the Town Hall Gardens. And now, with a packed calendar of major events coming up, we want to make sure as many people as possible can be part of it. So we're cutting the cost of train fares for these big events to try and make it cheaper and easier than ever to hop on the train and enjoy everything has to offer. You too can play your part; bring the family, support local businesses, and come and be part of what's set to be a fantastic year for Southport."

The pocket friendly fares form part of a wider drive to help Southport rebuild confidence, attract more visitors, and boost its local economy, ensuring the resort remains a vibrant destination for major events throughout the year.

Leaders across the City Region have emphasised the importance of supporting Southport not only in terms of its regeneration and economic ambitions, but also in nurturing its cultural identity and strengthening community wellbeing.

Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson said:- "We really welcome this initiative, that will give families a chance to visit our wonderful Town and experience some of our really exciting events that we have lined up. We have really been investing in Southport's regeneration and I am really looking forward for people to take advantage of the discounted train fares and make the most of Southport. With something on nearly every month as part of our Elegantly Eccentric cultural programme, there is really something for everyone to enjoy. These affordable train tickets are helping encourage everyone to take the train to Southport and experience the programme of events that promise to keep the Town buzzing."

Tony Hall CBE, Lord Hall of Birkenhead, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership said:- "The programme of events will showcase the very best of Southport from our beautiful coastline to our vibrant cultural scene. The special Merseyrail tickets unveiled by the Mayor today are a great way of encouraging visitors to travel in and enjoy everything the Town has to offer. By attracting people throughout the year, we're helping to support local businesses, boost the visitor economy and strengthen Southport's reputation as 1 of the Region's leading destinations."

Suzanne Grant, Deputy Managing Director at Merseyrail, said:- "The �2 fare is a great way for us to support Southport's visitor economy by making travel to events more accessible and affordable for people across the Liverpool City Region. Combined with �1 child fares and the convenience of Tap & Go, this offer encourages more people to enjoy the Town's flagship attractions and contribute to the local economy."

The fares promotion on all Merseyrail services to and from Southport will be in place for the following events, with tickets available from Merseyrail ticket offices and via Tap and Go.

The events are as follows:-

Cristal Palace 3 April to 4 April 2026.
Big Top Festival 2 May to 3 May 2026.
Southport Food & Drink Festival 29 May to 31 May 2026.
Southport Flower Show 20 August to 23 August 2026.
Southport Airshow 29 August to 30 August 2026.
British Musical Fireworks Championship 26 September to 27 September 2026.
Books Alive 24 October to 31 October 2026.

The reduced-price tickets are being paid for by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority from funds recovered from train manufacturer Stadler.

For more information visit the Merseyrail website.

Calling all Merseyside Schools to join MVRP for:- 'Stop the Bleed Day 2026'

THE Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP) is inviting all Secondary Schools across Merseyside to take part in:- 'Stop the Bleed Day 2026' is a national day of action that equips young people with simple, life saving skills.

Taking place on:- Wednesday, 29 April 2026:- 'Stop the Bleed Day' gives young people the confidence to take action if someone suffers a life‑threatening bleed. The session is short, engaging, and suitable for Year 7 and above, making it easy to build into the School day.

By taking part, pupils will learn simple, memorable skills that could 1 day save a life, including:-

How to recognise a life‑threatening bleed.
How to control a bleeding wound.
How to apply pressure to a wound correctly.
How to pack a wound.
How to improvise a tourniquet.

In 2025's Stop the Bleed Day reached Schools across Manchester, with fantastic feedback on how confident and engaged pupils felt afterwards.

This year, the MVRP are working with our partners:- KnifeSavers, as well as:- CitizenAID and the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit (GMVRU), to bring this practical, empowering training to Schools across Merseyside, with the aim of training as many pupils as possible and being part of an even bigger national effort to empower young people.

KnifeSavers founder and Consultant Trauma Surgeon, at Merseyside' Major Trauma Center, based at Aintree University Hospital, Nikhil Misra, said:- "KnifeSavers was founded on the belief that literally anyone can save a life with the right knowledge, so we're proud to be bringing this national day of action to young people across Merseyside. Stop the Bleed Day gives students those essential skills in a hands‑on, fun and memorable way. Last year's success showed how engaged and capable young people are when given opportunities like this. Working with MVRP, we are determined to reach as many young people as possible to learn how to save a life by stopping bleeding in 1 day."

Nigel Barraclough, Paramedic and National Project Lead for Stop the Bleed Day, said:- "We are proud to partner with MVRP and KnifeSavers to bring this life-saving training to Merseyside and Cheshire. A person can bleed out in less than 5 minutes, yet the skills to prevent this are remarkably simple to learn. By empowering young people with this knowledge, we are giving them the tools to save lives when every second counts."

Director of the MVRP, Supt Georgie Garvey, said:- "Early intervention is at the heart of everything we do, and Stop the Bleed Day is a perfect example of prevention in action. By teaching young people practical, life‑saving skills, we are not only preparing them for emergencies but also helping them understand the real‑life consequences of violence in a safe, constructive way. We're proud to be working with our partners KnifeSavers to support this initiative. The training is easy to deliver, impactful and completely free for Schools. We want as many pupils as possible across Merseyside to benefit."

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- "Stop the Bleed Day is a simple but powerful way to equip young people with the skills and confidence to save a life. This initiative complements the long‑term work we are delivering through the MVRP to prevent serious violence, support early intervention and create safer futures for our young people. I strongly encourage Schools across Merseyside to get involved. By taking part, you are giving pupils practical tools that could make all the difference in an emergency, and you are helping build safer, stronger communities."

How to get your School involved�

By taking part, your School will:-

Promote resilience and practical life skills.
Support community safety.
Take part in a coordinated national education initiative.
Become part of a growing network committed to saving lives.

Everything your School needs is provided

1 of the biggest advantages of Stop the Bleed Day is its simplicity. Schools receive:-

A ready to use instructional video.
A full support pack.
Guidance on creating or purchasing a training model.
Volunteers from the KnifeSavers clinical team to help run the session.

Your team just needs to provide space, basic AV equipment and staff supervision. The session lasts:- 30 to 45 minutes, and entire year groups can be trained in a single day, up to 300 pupils.

Signing up is quick and easy. Schools and volunteers can register at:- StopTheBleedDay.UK.

What are your thoughts on this news topic? Email our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter. Please do let us know as we love to hear your views....

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Mayor unveils great value tickets on Merseyrail services to supercharge Southport Tourism

Calling all Merseyside Schools to join MVRP for:- 'Stop the Bleed Day 2026'