Merseyrail will be handing out free train tickets to celebrate Clean Air Day on 20 June – encouraging people to “go clean, go green, go Merseyrail”.
The move is part of an initiative to encourage people to consider their carbon emissions and how they can make small travel changes to protect the environment.
Car travel can generate three times as much carbon emissions as train travel, and by switching to rail, commuters and leisure travellers alike can do their part in reducing this, and travel on the most reliable rail service in the country while doing so.
Merseyrail staff will be offering passengers the chance to get their hands on free passes to try the train in various locations across Liverpool city centre on Wednesday 19 June for use on Thursday.
The tickets will be printed on recycled paper as the train operator’s further commitment to being more environmentally-friendly.
This comes just weeks after Merseyrail’s announcement that it would no longer be automatically printing receipts for customers – saving up to 600km of paper each year.
Clean Air Day is the UK’s biggest air pollution campaign, and aims to raise awareness of the danger to the environment, share information and make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone.
It is coordinated by environment charity Global Action Plan and is supported by more than 200 organisations, including Public Health England, British Heart Foundation, British Cycling, and Royal College of Physicians.
Cath Johnston, Head of Sustainability at Merseyrail, said: “Air pollution is a serious problem in our environment, and it’s something that we all need to do our part to tackle.
“Road travel generates some of the most dangerous air pollutants in our region – including the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide which can cause a flare-up of asthma or symptoms such as coughing and difficulty breathing. However, it’s not just the environment that makes rail travel a better option.
“With 15-minute services across the network between 7am and 7pm, more time to relax with a book or music at the start and end of your day, no dreaded roadworks or traffic lights and travel from just £1.91 per day, it’s the perfect travel choice.
“I would encourage everyone to take advantage of the free travel day and contribute to a cleaner, greener environment. Even by just using the train once a week you could make a huge difference.”
Clean Air Day is a great opportunity to get children thinking about air pollution and the environment, and with lots of ‘green’ days out in the region – hopping on the train is a great way to enjoy some family time.
The initiative comes just over a year after Merseyrail opened Maghull North station, which also commits to being more environmentally friendly with the provision for charging points for electric vehicles.
Top green locations on the Merseyrail network include National Trust Formby, Rice Lane City Farm, Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve, Otterspool Park and many more.
To find out more about green days out on Merseyrail, visit Destination Merseyside here: https://www.merseyrail.org/greendaysout.