In July 2024, it was announced it is to be rebranded as Transport for Liverpool City Region (TfLCR) in the future.

[2] In May 2021, Mayor Steve Rotherham set out a plan for all trains, buses and ferries to become an integrated transport system under Merseytravel, owned by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Merseytravel, as the passenger transport executive, is responsible for the co-ordination of local rail services which operate within Liverpool City Region under the direction of the combined authority.

Merseytravel is the owner of Merseyrail which operates services across Merseyside, Cheshire, and Lancashire under a franchise model.

[6][7][8] 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.

The Transport Act 1985 mandated the deregulation and privatisation of bus services in England (other than in Greater London).

The co-ordination of Merseyside's bus network disappeared: Crosville, Ribble, now known as North Western and Greater Manchester's GM Buses, became competitors of Merseybus, along with new entrants like CMT Buses, Fareway, Halton Transport, Liverbus, Liverline, PMT's Red Rider, Village Group, and other smaller operators.

Merseyside's popular bus corridors became a venue for intense competition, with less profitable services ignored and, in some cases, disappearing.

A period of consolidation began in the mid-1990s: both Merseybus parent company MTL, and North Western -  now owned by Arriva – took over a number of the new entrants and the remainder folded.

However, Arriva was required by the Monopolies & Mergers Commission to divest some of its Liverpool services, which are now operated by Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire.

Merseytravel owns and operates the Mersey Ferry service between Liverpool Pier Head, Seacombe in Wallasey and Woodside in Birkenhead.

[18] Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced in August 2019 that they were planning on using £172 million of funding on several major transport projects.

Making the announcement, Mayor Rotheram said that the multimillion project will “ensure that the iconic Ferry Cross the Mersey will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.” The new ferry will be designed and constructed by Birkenhead shipbuilder Cammell Laird and is due to launch in 2026.