Following its successful pioneering campaign that has seen antisocial passengers prosecuted for putting their feet on seats, Merseyrail is proposing making all their trains and stations ‘dry’ to deter alcohol related crimes on the network.
Should the ban on drinking alcohol go ahead, Merseyrail would become the first train operator outside of London to introduce such a policy and it would be one of the first changes introduced by their new managing director Maarten Spaargaren.
Merseyrail is looking at the practicalities of enforcing a ban, whether it would require a specific by-law or for an existing by-law to be extended.
Currently the consumption of alcohol is only prohibited for certain times, at five of the network’s underground stations, on the approach to Christmas.
Mr Spaargaren said: “We think an alcohol ban would give greater protection to passengers and staff at all times of the year.”
