Editing Merseytravel (section)

===Merseyrail===
{{See also|Merseyrail|Northern line (Merseyrail)|Wirral line}}
As a result of the [[privatisation of British Rail]], the [[Northern line (Merseyrail)|Northern]] and [[Wirral line]]s of the local [[Merseyrail]] rail network were brought together as the Merseyrail Electrics [[Passenger rail franchising in Great Britain|passenger franchise]], that was privatised on 19 January 1997. Under the original privatisation legislation of 1993, PTEs were co-signatories of franchise agreements covering their areas. The first [[train operating company]] (TOC) awarded the franchise contract was [[MTL (transport company)|MTL]], originally the operating arm of the PTE, but privatised itself in 1985. It traded under the Merseyrail Electrics brand, but after MTL was sold to [[Arriva]], the company was rebranded [[Arriva Trains Merseyside]] from 27 April 2001.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,238701,00.html |title=There'll be £13,500 along for bus drivers employees |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=25 January 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.investegate.co.uk/articlePrint.aspx?id=200002180730228111F |title=Recommended Cash Offer for MTL Services |publisher=Arriva |date=18 February 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.investegate.co.uk/article.aspx?id=200003080702438650G |title=Final Results Year Ended 31 December 1999 |publisher=Arriva |date=8 March 2000}}</ref>

When the franchise came up for renewal, reflecting the exclusive nature of the two lines - being largely isolated from the rest of the [[National Rail]] network and with no through passenger services to/from outside the Merseyrail network, the decision was taken to remove it from the national framework and bring it into local control. As a result, using the Merseyrail Electrics Network Order 2002 the [[Secretary of State for Transport]] exempted the system from being designated as a railway franchise under the privatisation legislation (the [[Railways Act 1993]]). This allowed the PTE to contract out the lines themselves, which it did with [[Merseyrail]] operated by [[Serco-Abellio]] commencing a 25-year contract on 20 July 2003.<ref name="HOCBP_policy">{{cite document |publisher=House of Common |id=House of Common Briefing Paper SN6521 |title=Railways: franchising policy |date=30 September 2015 |author=Louise Butcher}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2849849/Merseyrail-franchise-goes-Dutch.html |title=Merseyrail franchise goes Dutch |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph (UK)|The Daily Telegraph]] |date=24 April 2003}}</ref>

Unlike most rolling stock that is owned by private sector [[Rolling stock company|rolling stock companies]], Merseytravel will outright own the {{brc|777}} fleet, operated by Merseyrail.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=First Stadler Class 777 arrives on Merseyside |magazine=[[The Railway Magazine]] |issue=1427 |date=February 2020 |page=10}}</ref> The current {{brc|507}} and {{brc|508}} fleets are owned by [[Angel Trains]] and leased to Merseyrail.{{cn|date=March 2025}}