Passengers were asked to leave the train following the incident
A Merseyrail train was taken out of service following a “malfunction”(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
A mum feared someone could have fallen off a Merseyrail train after it “malfunctioned” on its way to Southport. Crystal, from Tuebrook, was travelling to the Musical Firework Championships in the town on Saturday, September 27, with her three children when the 5.17pm service from Liverpool city centre to Southport stopped at Bootle Oriel Road.
Crystal said as the train pulled into the station the doors opened on the opposite side to the platform.
She told the ECHO: “We went up to Southport to see the fireworks so we got on the train at Liverpool Central and when we got to Bootle Oriel Road the doors opened on the opposite side to the platform. 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 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.
“If someone had been leaning on the door they would have fallen out.
“Then the woman said she was waiting for confirmation on if the train was going to carry on.
“A couple of minutes later the driver made an announcement saying it was being cancelled and we all had to get off. Everyone was shocked because that never happens.”
The 37-year-old claimed it added around an hour onto the journey for her and her family as the next train to arrive was full. She said: “We got there about an hour later because the train came and it was full so we had to wait for the next one.”
Despite the disruption, Crystal explained her and her family managed to enjoy the evening out in Southport once they arrived.
She added: “Because of my disabilities, I don’t get to go out that often so when the fireworks come round we look forward to it.
“It’s the second time we’ve been, before last year we didn’t even know it was a thing.”
The ECHO understands no one was injured in the incident, with a Merseyrail spokesperson saying the malfunction caused the service to be cancelled.
Greg Suligowski, Head of Communications at Merseyrail, said: “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“The train was immediately withdrawn from service to enable a full investigation to take place.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.”