From today's Guardian:
By the end of this week, if you are visiting Liverpool you will be able to ride into town on a train bearing the name of John Peel. And if you happen to be listening to one of the late DJ's favourite songs – Amsterdam's Does This Train Stop on Merseyside? – well, the answer will be yes.
The train is intended as a lasting memorial for Peel, who grew up in the area. "We are very proud of the man John was and of his connection with Merseyside," councillor Mark Dowd, chair of Merseytravel, said in a press release.
The train will be inaugurated at around 3pm on Thursday, leaving Merseytravel's Liverpool South Parkway station. Sheila Ravenscroft, Peel's wife, will be present for a ceremony and will travel on the train's first journey to Liverpool. "We are just really delighted that John is being honoured with this train," Ravenscroft said. "He would have loved it!"
The train's inauguration comes just two days before the fourth anniversary of Peel's death.
"Having Sheila with us to launch the train makes it that extra bit special," said Neil Scales, Merseytravel's chief executive and director general. "This train will forever be linked to John, a man whose influence on music was, and to some extent still remains, unparalleled."
Guests at the event will be treated to a special performance of Does This Train Stop on Merseyside? by Amsterdam's Ian Prowse. The song was cherished by Peel, who once called it his second-favourite track. "[John] wasn't capable of playing [the song] without crying," his wife told BBC Radio 1 in a tribute special.
"If he played it on the radio he'd have to put something on straight afterwards because he wouldn't be able to speak. When he played it at home, he'd always need a cuddle afterwards."
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