Waterways: Andyk's post might not have been relevant to the issue of the underground network in Liverpool but it was a bit harsh to just dismiss his comments and reiterate a point you've made almost 100 times. You keep saying the city NEEDS it. The more I think about, the more I think, "no, it doesn't necessarily need it at all." The Waterloo tunnel could be utilised, yes. But all these areas like Lodge Lane and Vauxhall are so close to town you could walk it if you wanted. I know a lad in my old college class who used to walk from town to Allerton (albeit after a night out drinking).
More important issues are out in the suburbs where bus services are poor and infrequent. A lot of people in Merseyside do not have rail access, and indeed, the Burscough Curves help integrate the West Lancashire area (a major Liverpool commuter area) into the Merseyside rail network, and provide commuters with greater flexibility, especially commuters who travelling from Ormskirk to Southport to work and vice versa.

Andy might be better off starting a new thread but the Burscough Curves is something that I have been following closely, and it seems as though the forever-ongoing 'investigation' is now turning to a reality, albeit about 20 years away at the earliest, what with all the funding issues, and planning processes.