MERSEYRAIL travellers are urging the operator to re-introduce the Green Lane and Bromborough Rake stops on the Chester Line after they were cut back earlier this year.

Sophia Ballantyne, 62, originally from London, moved to Birkenhead in 2020 during the pandemic.

She travels to Liverpool for work Monday to Friday mornings from Green Lane Station.

Merseyrail decided to reduce their services running from two of the region's stations on Monday, August 22 in a bid to "improve reliability and reduce disruption".

The operator reduced the frequency of trains at Green Lane and Bromborough Rake stations from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes.

All other stations on the Chester and Ellesmere Port lines were unaffected and the move went down badly with those living close to the affected stations, including Sophia.

Speaking to the Globe, the complex care co-ordinator said: “Before the reduced service, there was never more than a 30-second to one-minute delay.

“Now that we only have the Ellesmere Port train stopping at Green Lane, we have constant three or four-minute delays.

“It’s completely unacceptable. Merseyrail just don’t care about us.

“It makes no sense having a train station open that only has two trains an hour in either direction, a total of four an hour. It’s just nonsense.”

Sophia also explained that there are always queues at Green Lane station and the trains are overcrowded every morning.

She added: “When you commute it is like playing Tetris, it is so difficult to get a seat. It’s a three-carriage train and it’s just diabolical.

“It doesn’t matter what time you arrive in the morning, there is always a queue to buy tickets.”

Speaking about her youngest son, who suffers from Asperger’s, Sophia said the change in train service has affected him.

She said: “He has severe anxiety and won’t go into Liverpool anymore. If he misses the Ellesmere Port train, he can’t cope with waiting for half an hour for another train.

“I know he isn’t the only person with a disability who has suffered from changes like this.”

Jo Bird, Green Councillor for Bromborough, Port Sunlight & New Ferry, said: "People who use Bromborough Rake and Green Lane stations are furious that Merseyrail has slashed the timetable. No consultation nor warnings came with this draconian cut.

"Over 500 people have signed the petition against cuts to train services on Wirral Line. www.change.org/p/petition-to-stop-the-timetable-change-at-bromborough-rake-and-green-lane-train-stations.

"Many people have voiced their opposition to these reductions. Our community needs more accessible train services not less.

"It's completely unacceptable to slash our timetable. Full train services to Bromborough Rake and Green Lane should resume immediately.

"Ruth Molyneux and I delivered our community’s petition to Merseyrail. Merseyrail say train times will be restored whenever much-delayed new trains come into service."

Mick Whitely, MP for Birkenhead, has requested that Merseytravel review their decision to cut the service at Green Lane given the problems it has caused local commuters, travellers and residents.

He is currently waiting for a response to his request.

He said: “I am concerned about the cut to the Green Lane service.

"Given the inconvenience it causes local residents and the overcrowding it is creating on other services I think this decision by Merseytravel needs to be reviewed and I have asked them to do this.”

Zoe Hands, Chief Operating Officer at Merseyrail said: “Earlier this year, our customers told us that punctuality on the Chester line was not living up to the high standards that customers on our other lines enjoy.

“To address this, we amended the Chester Train calling pattern to remove the need to stop at Green Lane and Bromborough Rake stations as they are already served by 30-minute Ellesmere Port services.

“Since this change was made, performance on the Chester line has improved by over 10% delivering meaning the vast majority of Chester line customers have benefited, whilst affecting the smallest number of people possible.

“We are sorry that customers at Green Lane and Bromborough Rake only have direct access to the Ellesmere Port service, but we intend to reintroduce Chester trains to both stations once the new fleet of faster 777 trains roll out across our network next year.”