IT SEEMS to have escaped some people’s notice that something is happening in Liverpool this year; just a little event, spanning 12 months, titled European Capital of Culture 2008.

This, surely is the only explanation as to why services on the West Coast line are set to be plunged into disarray while some of the most eagerly-anticipated events take place?

For Network Rail’s schedule of engineering is expected to cause major disruptions just as some of the key summer programme events get under way.

It means that anyone planning on attending the latter part of Beatles Week, the World Firefighter Games and the internationally-acclaimed Mathew Street festival, via the West Coast line, will be unable to book “advance purchase” tickets.

Travellers buying full-fare tickets for train journeys between London and Liverpool on the Bank Holiday Saturday and Sunday face a five-hour journey with two changes and a bus ride – hardly likely to heighten the anticipation of a fun weekend.

Network Rail says, essentially, that the Office of Rail Regulators accepted its plan of works and there was no gain without pain. But this is an error it cannot simply bat away with a statement – to schedule works over such a key Bank Holiday weekend shows either arrogance or a woeful lack of knowledge of Liverpool’s status as a tourist destination.

Deputy leader of Liverpool City Council Flo Clucas describes the decision as a “disgrace”; she is right.

No-one disputes the work needs to be done – it is purely a matter of timing. However, Network Rail could still salvage this situation – it just needs to acknowledge the grave error that has been made and furnish operator Virgin with a clear schedule of works planned, taking into account the internationally-anticipated events that are taking place in Liverpool in the coming weeks and months. Whether it will do so remains to be seen.