Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

[TheSel]

Is Central station Northern line closed only on weekends ?

There's a three (and a bit) day blockade coming up, late 26 Feb to end of service 1 March inclusive. Details here

[Quote from website link]

Liverpool Central station will be closed to Northern line passengers and there will be no services on the Hunts Cross line for three days, as further preparations are made for the continued roll-out of the new fleet of Class 777 trains.

The works will see track alterations made to accommodate eight-car trains at the city centre station, which are due to operate as the roll out continues.

For the work to be completed quickly and safely, Liverpool Central station will close to Northern line services from 22:00 on Sunday 26 February until the end of service on Wednesday 1 March.

 

[LPJOHN]

The 13:35 Liverpool Central was delayed arriving at Kirkby. The 13:58 left Kirkby at 14:05 and did not stop until arriving at Liverpool central.

 

[karlbbb]

They aren't at the moment, there's a problem depending on where the units were built of them basically not talking to each other.

Are there any proposed solutions to this, do you (or anyone) know? Seems like rather a large oversight!

 

[Liverpool 507]

777018 is operating Kirkby line services today with 777049 operating on Kirkby crew training runs. 777013 is operating crew training/testing runs up to Hillside. 777001 and 777003 were out testing overnight as an eight car set.

 

[jamesst]

Are there any proposed solutions to this, do you (or anyone) know? Seems like rather a large oversight!

It'll be sorted in good time, just need some work on the software. Some can operate together, just depends where they were built!!

 

[Skie]

It'll be sorted in good time, just need some work on the software. Some can operate together, just depends where they were built!!

Odds together, evens together. Easy enough.

 

[315801]

It would certainly solve the problem running like that as there wouldn't or shouldn't be any tech issues

 

[AlexNL]

It'll be sorted in good time, just need some work on the software. Some can operate together, just depends where they were built!!

That sounds like the issues NS found in the mid-2000s when the back then new SLT trains were tested.

If memory serves me right the ones built by Bombardier couldn't talk to the ones built by Siemens and vice versa, despite being built by a Siemens-Bombardier consortium. Those issues were resolved though.

 

[Wezz]

All Kirkby services (Mon - Sat) except for the 23:55 service will be formed of Class 777's from Monday 20th February, announced on the Mersey Railways 2.0 Facebook group by a staff member who works on the Class 777 programme.

 

[Sam 76]

All Kirkby services (Mon - Sat) except for the 23:55 service will be formed of Class 777's from Monday 20th February, announced on the Mersey Railways 2.0 Facebook group by a staff member who works on the Class 777 program.

Seems like a really significant moment for the programme. I wonder if it will lead to more withdrawals of the 507/508 ?

 

[Vespa]

Seems like a really significant moment for the programme. I wonder if it will lead to more withdrawals of the 507/508 ?

Undoubtedly as more 777 arrives spaces will need to made for them, the loco shed at Birkenhead Central would have been a useful storage facility, as it is the old trains will have to leave the system for scrapping to make room.


Soon the focus will shift from incoming 777s to chasing the few 507/8 still in service right up to the inevitable farewell tour.

 

[Liverpool 507]

Undoubtedly as more 777 arrives spaces will need to made for them, the loco shed at Birkenhead Central would have been a useful storage facility, as it is the old trains will have to leave the system for scrapping to make room.


Soon the focus will shift from incoming 777s to chasing the few 507/8 still in service right up to the inevitable farewell tour.

Southport sidings are seeing more units being stored in the same way New Brighton Wall Siding is used for those in the queue for Birkenhead North.

507004 (recently moved) and 507032 have been at Southport for a number of weeks.

 

[childwallblues]

Which 777s are ready to enter passenger service please?
I note that 777009/018/049 are already in use.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Undoubtedly as more 777 arrives spaces will need to made for them, the loco shed at Birkenhead Central would have been a useful storage facility, as it is the old trains will have to leave the system for scrapping to make room.


Soon the focus will shift from incoming 777s to chasing the few 507/8 still in service right up to the inevitable farewell tour.

Hasn't there been at least two "farewell" tours already? How many do they need?

 

[507020]

Hasn't there been at least two "farewell" tours already? How many do they need?

There have been BLS tours before on Merseyrail but obviously none have been the “farewell” variety yet.

 

[Wezz]

Undoubtedly as more 777 arrives spaces will need to made for them, the loco shed at Birkenhead Central would have been a useful storage facility, as it is the old trains will have to leave the system for scrapping to make room.


Soon the focus will shift from incoming 777s to chasing the few 507/8 still in service right up to the inevitable farewell tour.

508122 and 508138 are due to be the next units to leave us, no date yet but it won't be long.

 

[Sam 76]

508122 and 508138 are due to be the next units to leave us, no date yet but it won't be long.

Thanks for the info

 

[M28361M]

There will be a second 777 diagram on the Kirkby line from 20th February, according to a reliable source on “Mersey Railways 2.0” (new Facebook group)

 

[DJH1971]

Wonder which line the 777's will be on next?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Wonder which line the 777's will be on next?

IIRC Ormskirk was in line to be the next to get 777s, but that could have changed.

 

[Liverpool 507]

Originally it was early March for the Ormskirk line. That may have now changed

 

[Wezz]

Originally it was early March for the Ormskirk line. That may have now changed

I reckon late March/early April.

I'm not on the 777 programme though so can't confirm.

 

[karlbbb]

IIRC Ormskirk was in line to be the next to get 777s, but that could have changed.

I would be surprised if it wasn’t the Ormskirk line with it passing Kirkdale.

 

[Bletchleyite]

So I have now been on one and...it was OK. Better than a 507/508, but then it wouldn't be hard to be better than rolling stock that is so poorly designed that you'd think the designer hated passengers with a passion.

Seats in particular absolutely awful. Legroom poor. Lighting grossly excessive and too direct. Step up from the moving ramp noticeably higher than other Stadlers and may be difficult for some wheelchair users (I've heard a complaint about this already). Ride average with a nasty sway on jointed track. Build quality and panel fit poor (where were these built?), and some bizarrely bad design quirks e.g. the heating conduit.

I'll post a decent review in trip reports when I get back tomorrow or Sunday, but overall for all the shouting this was a massive anticlimax. Overall markedly inferior to the London Underground S8 which I would normally hold as the benchmark for this sort of train - I find the S8s superb and very, very difficult to fault in any way. They will do, but they really are not good. And that's from a "paid up" member of the Stadler fan club.

 

[MattRat]

I reckon late March/early April.

I'm not on the 777 programme though so can't confirm.

Personally I'd wait till after the Grand National. Guarantee 6 cars instead of hoping to have the 8 cars ready. But with the way they introduced them on the Kirby line, I doubt they'll do that.

 

[HUY2ROB]

Seats in particular absolutely awful. Legroom poor.

Maybe there are different seat spacings. I had about four inches between my knees and the seat in front. I'm about six foot two.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Maybe there are different seat spacings. I had about four inches between my knees and the seat in front. I'm about six foot two.

I tried a couple. Normal seat was too tight. Priority was only just OK. Facing seemed good. Similar deal to a 350/2 though very slightly more space than that.

Very narrow though, about the same as the 700 but much, much less comfortable due to the backrest shape.

They'll do. They aren't good. Perhaps overhyped?

 

[Grumpy Git]

Bletchleyite

www.railforums.co.uk

Overall markedly inferior to the London Underground S8 which I would normally hold as the benchmark for this sort of train - I find the S8s superb and very, very difficult to fault in any way.

I happen to know someone high-up on the management team at Merseytravel, who was involved in the procurement of these trains. I can't remember his actual quote to me personally regarding the Bombardier offer at the time, but it was along the lines of 'too bl**dy expensive'.

You pays your money and takes your choice.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

So I have now been on one and...it was OK. Better than a 507/508, but then it wouldn't be hard to be better than rolling stock that is so poorly designed that you'd think the designer hated passengers with a passion.

That's a bit hyperbolic, don't you think? Sure the old trains are getting on a bit now and due for replacement, but the refurb done in the 2000s had many not realising they were the same trains as before.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That's a bit hyperbolic, don't you think? Sure the old trains are getting on a bit now and due for replacement, but the refurb done in the 2000s had many not realising they were the same trains as before.

A train that has not one single seat with a good window view is designed by someone whose first thought isn't passengers (see also the 20m Mk3 derived DMUs and EMUs). Though I was indeed referring to as built, as they had rubbish seats then to boot. The refurb did add good seats, something the 777 has gone back on - they are very hard and an extremely odd shape which pushes a tall passenger into leaning forward, forcing a rounded back which is the total opposite of good posture.

Window alignment is certainly something the 777s aren't terrible at - there are a few misaligned seats but not many.

It appears the protruding headrest issue was "fixed" by thickening the cushion at the top. These mock ups really should be done before any procurements are finalised so you can genuinely correct problems rather than just bodging them.