Sorry didn't see this one at first. Shouldn't they all be 6 cars? Even if it was swapped and I was able to get on a 6 car Ormskirk, Kirkby would suffer instead, and that still wouldn't sit right with me.
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Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates
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Or they may keep the interworking as a way for 777s to enter service on both the Ormskirk and Kirkby lines (the only 2 with access to Kirkdale depot) at once albeit only as 4 cars.
They have been out as 8 cars at night, but have always turned back at Hillside due to platform lengths, so being north of there I have never seen one.
I think people on the Wirral as far as Birkenhead North and Hooton sleep alright knowing they have a higher frequency service than we do.
MR-507508
Member
Prior to the May 2018 timetable change (due to the opening of Maghull North station), the Kirkby and Ormskirk line did have periods where they interworked - all day Sunday and evenings (Monday-Saturday).
After the May 2018 timetable change, as you say, there was no interworking at all between the two lines, with the Ormskirk trains using the reversing siding at Liverpool Central during the day (Monday-Saturday) due to the longer 12 minute turnaround time at Central, allowing them to change platforms-terminating on platform 1 and forming the next Ormskirk service (from the reversing siding) on platform 2.
Will be interesting to see once the class 777 units are established on the network how the timetable adapts and changes moving forward.
I remember the pre-Covid arrangement at Central very well after standing there for a very long time trying to fathom the announcement “The next service is not in service” because if it’s not in service then it’s not a service at all to be in service, so it doesn’t make sense. By the time I’d thought about that for 12 minutes, the next announcement would be “The train arriving on Platform 2 is the Ormskirk service” and it became obvious where it had been. Some amount of cleaning also took place in the reversing siding didn’t it? Has it been used at all in the last 18 months?
Once the 777s are established in service I would hope there would be 4 platforms at Central!
MR-507508
Member
Yes, I remember the cleaning presentation team used to board the terminating Ormskirk train on platform 1 and head into the siding with the train and then hop off again when the train arrived back on platform 2.
The reversing siding is only used for empty stock moves at the moment, as it was only ever used for this before the May 2018 timetable change.
A class 777 unit (while on test) can also use it when switching between the two lines, however I believe there is some issues with this siding if an 8 car class 777 formation was to use it, I don't think the siding is long enough to accommodate it so some work needs to be done on the siding.
Last I heard at the start of 2021 that this work was due to take place over the Christmas-New year period this year but I don't think this is going ahead now?
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It's not possible to have all services running as 6 cars all day (or even at peak times). There aren't enough available units to allow for this + the mileage each unit would be accumulating needs to be factored in, due to exam and maintenance requirements of the units. The good thing about having a select few peak services as 6 car on the Ormskirk/Kirkby line is there is a relatively easy way for the units to come out of service after the peak (either terminating for the day, as the service drops to every 30 mins, and heading back to Kirkdale depot or uncoupling at Ormskirk, with the front unit heading back to the depot ECS). If all services were 6 car, then some 6 cars would end up staying out until the end of service, when 6 cars are no longer required and hence the unit would be accumulating miles it does not really need to be accumulating, which can have a knock on effect on when the unit is required for maintenance etc.
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ExRes
Established Member
I think this should be showing as cancelled, the Leicester LIP to Crewe diagram didn't run yesterday
Ah! So unlikely to run? Could it be because there's already units in Crewe? The Leicester LIP to Crewe diagram was scheduled to run laden according to RTT
ExRes
Established Member
The Leicester - Crewe was a Class 6 which is for the barrier wagons
As I understand it DCR are only moving the units between Crewe and Kirkdale and that new units will continue to be delivered by GBRf
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Thanks for the info! It's still intriguing. I'll keep an eye on it on RTT and maybe pop down to my local station if it's actually running
The 1900 and 1920 Liverpool Central to Ormskirk are normally six car as well, Mon- Fri.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Are they busy, or is it just the end of the diagrams as it drops down to 2tph so they might as well stay there as come off earlier?
jamesst
Established Member
These diagrams go off to the depot when the 30min frequency starts, saves sending extra staff up to split them earlier.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Makes sense. There are mid-evening LNR 12 car formations out of Euston for the same reason - knowing which ones can give for a very comfortable journey.
Not really busy usually about 50% of seats taken.
ExRes
Established Member
56091 and the barriers arrived at Crewe Down Refuge this morning on 6Z22 from Leicester LIP, can't see an onward diagram as yet
Thanks for the heads-up!
Realtime Trains - 6Z23 2243 Crewe Down Refuge Siding to Crewe Coal Yard
Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.
6Z23 2243 Crewe Down Refuge Siding to Kirkdale C.S.
I was literally about to go looking for this! Thank you!Realtime Trains - 6Z23 2243 Crewe Down Refuge Siding to Crewe Coal Yard
Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.www.realtimetrains.co.uk
6Z23 2243 Crewe Down Refuge Siding to Kirkdale C.S.
Jamesrob637
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Just on the move now around 22 late.
It's been sat between Crewe and Winsford for a while, wonder whether if it's broken down?!
Edit: as of 0052 it's still showing as being between Crewe and Winsford on both RTT and OTT...
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ExRes
Established Member
It's been reported elsewhere that there was a requirement for a skate, whether that was the 6Z23 loco(s), the barriers or the unit(s) (if it was actually hauling a unit) or another train entirely is not presently clear
What do you mean, a skate?.
Also, it's still showing in the same place on OTT and RTT... I'm assuming this is an error.
ExRes
Established Member
Presumably there's a damaged wheel on one of the vehicles on 6Z23, this means a wheelskate has to be put under the damaged/seized wheel in order for the train to be moved
Wheel flats apparently. A skate is literally that, a contraption with tiny wheels that a damaged wheel rests on and “skates” along the track.
Thanks for the info. I looked it up on YouTube so I'll share it here for other people's benefit...
Wezz
Member
Incorrect, 777003 ran between Kirkdale and Kirkby several times that night, stopping every few hundred yards to test on board systems as it was the first testing of the class on the network.
Just spotted a service from Dollands Moor to Kirkdale C.S. on RTT. It departs Dollands Moor at 0348 8/12, arriving Kirkdale C.S at 0033 9/12. A new unit coming across?
6X29 0348 Dollands Moor (Gbrf) to Kirkdale C.S.
6X29 0348 Dollands Moor (Gbrf) to Kirkdale C.S.
Liverpool 507
Member
Yes. The turn of 004 now.
The Stadler and Merseyrail staff riding the unit have decorated it with some Christmas decorations. A nice little touch!
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