Getting on board: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority responds to our petition calling for a direct rail connection between Heswall and Liverpool

More than 850 people have now signed our petition calling for a direct train service from Heswall to Liverpool, so as the year draws to a close it's time to give it one final push down the line.

As many of you will know, the petition argues that the current journey, which requires a change at Bidston, is bad news for anyone from Heswall and area who works in the city or simply wants to enjoy it, and a barrier to people from over the water who might want to visit Heswall.

The change at Bidston is required because the Transport for Wales Borderlands line on which Heswall lies operates diesel trains, while those of Merseyrail are electric.

The argument is simple and goes like this: Heswall deserves connectivity like that enjoyed by West Kirby and Hoylake. The diesel trains of the Borderlands line on which Heswall lies are environmentally unsound and will become things of the past. Merseyrail has been trialling battery powered trains which, while not an immediate solution, look to a future when such locomotives have longer range and could be the answer.

As public transport policy is shaped, Heswall mustn't be left behind.

In encouraging news for the 650 signatories and anyone else who wants to see better rail links in the area, a spokesperson for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said in a statement that Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram is looking into the possibility of running services from Liverpool to Wrexham via Heswall, and "has pledged to deliver 'Merseyrail for All' by expanding services across the city region, including looking into the possibility of services from Liverpool to Wrexham via Heswall.

"We have held initial discussions with Transport for Wales, who currently operate on the Bidston to Wrexham line, about the possibility of running Merseyrail services on this line.

"This is at a very early stage though, and while the development of the battery operated train is a real positive step towards this, there would need to be a full feasibility study undertaken before they could operate on the line."

The statement continued: "Any study would have to look into several points including the compatibility of the new trains on the line, upgrades to infrastructure along the route and the effect additional trains would have on the existing Merseyrail timetable, particularly in relation to the city centre underground loop.

"It would also be subject to the availability of additional funding to support the expansion.

"We plan to begin the initial study in early 2022. It remains an ambition to introduce these services in the future and we will continue to work towards delivering this as quickly as feasibly possible."

So - there is hope of sorts. Perhaps now is the time to start working out how Heswall station could be given a makeover.

Lord knows it needs one.

Who knows, maybe one day we'll be able to take a Santa Express direct to Liverpool…

To reach the petition, just click or tap here.