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Improved Security & Information At Meols Cop

Northern Improves Information Services and Security for Customers at Meols Cop. Northern Rail customers at Meols Cop are now looking to the future as Customer Information Screens (CIS) and CCTV have been installed at the station.

Working in partnership with Merseytravel and Network Rail, Northern Rail, a Serco and Abellio joint venture, has made a significant investment in improving the station after a spate of vandalism left the station looking worse for wear.

The award winning Friends of Meols Cop Station group and the local Community Rail Partnership (CRP) continue to work closely with Northern to renovate, restore and keep the station looking at its best, whilst Merseytravel and Network Rail, through the National Station Improvement Programme (NSIP), have funded the £30,000 CCTV installation to ensure no further vandalism occurs.

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The Friends of Meols Cop

Northern’s £22,000 investment in the new information screens means that rail customers will benefit from up-to-the-minute train running information as and when it’s needed, and the CCTV will bring increased safety and security as the station is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The installation of the Customer Information Screen at Meols Cop represents part of a £3million investment by Northern and its partners that will mean that 140 stations across the north of England will be equipped with the new technology.

Natalie Loughborough, Customer Service Director for Northern Rail, comments: “We listen carefully to our customers’ feedback and we know they value real-time travel information. The new Customer Information Screens will keep people up-to-date with information about arrival and departure times as well as station calling points along the route.”

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Natalie Loughborough from Northern & Marion Atkinson from Merseytravel

“The installation of these Customer Information Screens demonstrates our commitment to investing in communication channels at our smaller stations. Meols Cop is just one of 140 stations across the North that will benefit from new screens by the end of the franchise.”

Cllr Gordon Friel, Lead Member for Rail on the Merseytravel Committee said: “We’re really pleased that working together with Northern Rail and Network Rail, we’ve been able to support these improvements at Meols Cop station that I am sure will be very welcomed.

“The installation of a CCTV system will provide improved safety and a reassurance for those worried about mindless acts of vandalism in particular.

“These improvements are just a small part of the wider improvements we are looking to make across the city region network as part of our 30-year Long Term Rail Strategy.”

Terry Strickland, Network Rail’s area director said: “Passengers will benefit from better real time information as well as improved safety at station as a result of this work we have been doing with our industry partners.

“We will continue to invest in schemes like these to bring station improvements across the region as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan.”