A Merseyrail train heading to Southport was immediately taken out of service on Saturday evening after its doors malfunctioned and opened on the wrong side of the tracks at Bootle Oriel Road station. The incident, which occurred on a service busy with families travelling to a fireworks event, has prompted a full investigation by the rail operator.
The 5:17 PM service from Liverpool city centre was cancelled following the operational failure. While no injuries were reported, passengers faced significant delays. Merseyrail has since apologised for the disruption and confirmed the train was withdrawn for detailed examination.
Key Takeaways
- A Merseyrail train's doors opened on the side of the live electrical tracks, not the platform.
- The incident happened at Bootle Oriel Road station on the 5:17 PM Liverpool to Southport service.
- The train was immediately cancelled and withdrawn from service for a full investigation.
- No one was injured, but passengers, including many families, experienced delays of up to an hour.
- Merseyrail has issued an apology for the cancellation and inconvenience caused.
Details of the Train Malfunction
The incident occurred on Saturday, September 27, as the train, filled with passengers heading to the Musical Firework Championships in Southport, arrived at Bootle Oriel Road station. A mother from Tuebrook, identified as Crystal, was travelling with her three children when the malfunction happened.
She reported that as the train stopped, the doors opened unexpectedly on the side opposite the station platform, exposing passengers to the open trackside and live electrical rails. This created a potentially hazardous situation, particularly as the carriages were crowded with many children.
"We got to Bootle Oriel Road the doors opened on the opposite side to the platform," Crystal explained. "They opened on the side where the live electrical tracks are and then a woman from Merseyrail came rushing down to make sure no one had fallen out."
The passenger expressed serious concern about the safety risk, noting the number of people on board. "The train was full and there were lots of children with people travelling to Southport for the firework show so someone could have easily fallen out," she added. "If someone had been leaning on the door they would have fallen out."
Passenger Disruption and Delays
Following the door malfunction, staff on the train acted quickly. A Merseyrail employee was seen checking the open doors to ensure all passengers were safe. Shortly after, the train driver announced that the service was being cancelled due to the fault.
All passengers were instructed to disembark at Bootle Oriel Road and wait for the next available service. Crystal, 37, said the cancellation and subsequent wait for another train added considerable time to their journey.
Journey Impact
The family's journey was delayed by approximately one hour. The next train to arrive was already full, forcing them and other passengers to wait for a subsequent service to continue their trip to Southport.
"A couple of minutes later the driver made an announcement saying it was being cancelled and we all had to get off," she recalled. "Everyone was shocked because that never happens."
Despite the disruption, Crystal confirmed that her family was able to reach their destination and enjoy the fireworks display. "Because of my disabilities, I don't get to go out that often so when the fireworks come round we look forward to it," she said.
Merseyrail's Official Response
Merseyrail has formally acknowledged the incident and confirmed that a full investigation is underway to determine the cause of the malfunction. The operator stressed that passenger safety is its primary concern and that withdrawing the train from service was a necessary precaution.
Operational Protocol
Standard procedure for a significant operational fault, especially one involving passenger safety systems like doors, is to remove the train from service immediately. This allows engineers to conduct a thorough diagnostic examination away from the live network to prevent any recurrence.
Greg Suligowski, Head of Communications at Merseyrail, provided an official statement regarding the event.
"We can confirm that the 17:17 Liverpool to Southport service was cancelled at Bootle Oriel Road station following an operational incident. The train was immediately withdrawn from service to enable a full investigation to take place. We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience caused by this cancellation."
The investigation will aim to identify the root cause of the door failure. The ECHO confirmed that no passengers were harmed during the incident. Merseyrail has not yet provided further details on the specific nature of the technical fault pending the outcome of its internal review.