Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

[geoffk]

Furious commuters demand bigger trains after being 'packed in like sardines'

Users of the Southport line service have expressed their frustration at a lack of extra carriages on the line at peak times in the morning

www.lancs.live

This from Lancs Live today.

'Furious rail passengers say apologies "are just not good enough" and are demanding bigger trains after being "packed in like sardines".
Commuters on the Southport line service shared pictures of a train from Waterloo to Moorfields with seemingly standing room only. They have voiced their frustration at a lack of extra carriages on the line at peak times in the morning.'

 

[MattRat]

Furious commuters demand bigger trains after being 'packed in like sardines'

Users of the Southport line service have expressed their frustration at a lack of extra carriages on the line at peak times in the morning

www.lancs.live

This from Lancs Live today.

Seems the issue is more that they scrapped some of the older trains too early.

 

[irish_rail]

Furious commuters demand bigger trains after being 'packed in like sardines'

Users of the Southport line service have expressed their frustration at a lack of extra carriages on the line at peak times in the morning

www.lancs.live

This from Lancs Live today.

Frustrating that Merseyraul refuse to just be open about the reason for this, that the new trains aren't up to it, and that for one reason or another the old ones are being allowed to be scrapped even though they are for now badly needed.

 

[prod_pep]

The reason for this nonsense is no mystery: too many 507/8s have gone for scrap too soon. It's a disgrace on the busiest lines now, and not just in peak hours. Some of the off-peak capacity problems actually go back over 15 years, such as Sundays on the Southport line outside the summer which are an overcrowded nightmare. The 'Miseryrail' days are well and truly back.

 

[AJDesiro]

Deleted.

 

[itsonlyme]

Have they solved the problem where a 777 from one factory will not connect to one from the other factory?

 

[Pacef8]

They have kept it quiet if they have . Particularly for the southport line.

 

[childwallblues]

777031 was noted at Sandhills at 1505 on a test train.

 

[darylyates17]

777028 & 30 (I think) were at Walton around 16:45 today seen by myself.

 

[L401CJF]

777015 being a problem on the 2030 from Chester this evening. Doors locked and passengers waiting on platform. Guard telling people not to rush as its not going anywhere soon. Destination screens blank, driver on phone to presumably maintenance. Email since gone out saying "broken down train at Chester " but did eventually depart 22 late.

2017 ex Ellesmere Port also 15 late but unsure why, lost all the time at Rock Ferry Liverpool bound. Not sure what unit whether 50X or 777.

 

[8A Rail]

Took my daughter to Aintree Hospital yesterday and while she was there, I went for a walk to Fazakerly Station to kill some time (why not). Was there long enough to note the two Class 777 / 1's operating on the service to / from Headbolt Lanewhich were 777142 and 146. No 777142 arrived heading to Liverpool with 'Not in Service' on display but was in service and collected a few passengers at the station. No 777146 arriving heading to Kirkby with correct displays. One thing that I did note with the Units, certainly at the station, they were both operating on battery power! So I must assume somewhere on the approach to / from the station (Liverpool side), they raise / drop their pick up shoes then? In the meantime No 777142 returned from Liverpool with display working!

 

[Deepgreen]

Apologies if this has been mentioned already/elsewhere, but I saw a photo today of the rear of a 777/1, and it shows a red rear lighting arrangement in the shape of a shallow 'M' across the cab end. It set me wondering if there is any limit/rules on the red light arrangement/layout on trains in the UK - i.e. can any arrangement be used? I wondered if a sinuous shape like this example would immediately be recognised as a train by someone in rear. https://www.railway-centre.com/

 

[Djgr]

Apologies if this has been mentioned already/elsewhere, but I saw a photo today of the rear of a 777/1, and it shows a red rear lighting arrangement in the shape of a shallow 'M' across the cab end. It set me wondering if there is any limit/rules on the red light arrangement/layout on trains in the UK - i.e. can any arrangement be used? I wondered if a sinuous shape like this example would immediately be recognised as a train by someone in rear. https://www.railway-centre.com/

What do you think they might mistake it for?

 

[ExRes]

Anyone know why the movement of 777028 & 777030 didn't take place? the RA 43s are reportedly on their way back to Kidderminster today minus the barrier vehicles

 

[childwallblues]

Anyone know why the movement of 777028 & 777030 didn't take place? the RA 43s are reportedly on their way back to Kidderminster today minus the barrier vehicles

Reportedly no room at Kirkdale for them at the moment.

 

[darylyates17]

Are any 777s likely to be on the West Kirby or New Brightons tomorrow? had planned to do Ellesmere Port but can’t due to the flooding

 

[Deepgreen]

What do you think they might mistake it for?

Cars today have all kinds of rear red LED light formations and where a road parallels a railway, who knows? I just wondered if there was any prescription involved. Similar things apply to, say, illuminated signing on platforms where red is avoided (at least that used to be the case on LU).

 

[ExRes]

Reportedly no room at Kirkdale for them at the moment.

Belated thanks @childwallblues

 

[158841]

Seems that the Wirral line is nearly 777 now!
Out of 6 diagrams out of Chester today only 507001 and 508114 we're working and only spotted one on West Kirby and one working a Southport.

How much time do they have left?

Also the trip to headbolt lane was something! Nice and easy swap over to third rail at kirkby

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

How many diagrams are 777 booked now, please?

All five Ormskirk and all three Kirkby/Headbolt? And how many on the Wirral? Are 50x (excluding cover for the regular breakdowns) now almost solely booked on Southports?

 

[73001]

Cancellations across the board this morning including several of the Headbolt Lane trains and Ormskirk, Chester and Ellesmere Port disruption.

 

[Bovverboy]

How many diagrams are 777 booked now, please? All five Ormskirk and all three Kirkby/Headbolt?

I make it six diagrams for Ormskirk, 15-minute service, 90 minute round trip. As for Headbolt, it's only two diagrams at the moment, with the 30-minute service, but as the future timetable appears to indicate on RTT, the implication is that three diagrams will be required for the 15-minute service, i.e. the same number which were required for Liverpool Central to Kirkby. Isn't that going to make things a bit tight?

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Cancellations across the board this morning including several of the Headbolt Lane trains and Ormskirk, Chester and Ellesmere Port disruption.

Can’t see any cancellations from Chester other than the 0557. Every service since then has run.

 

[irish_rail]

Is there any way of seeing (on the day) what is booked on certain services or diagrams? Am up that way shortly and looking to avoid 777s, or is it purely pot luck? Will be on the Wirral lines......

 

[Bletchleyite]

I make it six diagrams for Ormskirk, 15-minute service, 90 minute round trip. As for Headbolt, it's only two diagrams at the moment, with the 30-minute service, but as the future timetable appears to indicate on RTT, the implication is that three diagrams will be required for the 15-minute service, i.e. the same number which were required for Liverpool Central to Kirkby. Isn't that going to make things a bit tight?

Four I believe, there will be two units at Headbolt at once, which is why it's been built with two west facing terminal platforms, not one which would have been cheaper.

 

[Wrex2J78]

Is there any way of seeing (on the day) what is booked on certain services or diagrams? Am up that way shortly and looking to avoid 777s, or is it purely pot luck? Will be on the Wirral lines......

All New Brighton services are currently being operated by 507/508's but not sure how long for. Not seen a 777 in service on New Brighton's for best part of a week. 507002 is operating one diagram today.

 

[prod_pep]

The West Kirby line is also often all 507/8s, yesterday for example.

Four will be required for the Headbolt Lane route when the full timetable finally commences.

 

[darylyates17]

I wonder when all Wirral Line services will be 777s I guess it wont be too long with more and more 777s entering service, cant see many going on the Southport route just yet though.

 

[jamesst]

At present all Ormskirk and Headbolt diagrams, 5 out of 7 diagrams on the Chester line and 2 out of 3 diagrams on the Ellesmere Port line are booked for 777s.
There is a morning diagram on the New Brighton line that turns into an afternoon diagram on the West Kirby line that's booked a 777. More often than not though it runs as a 507/8.

 

[irish_rail]

At present all Ormskirk and Headbolt diagrams, 5 out of 7 diagrams on the Chester line and 2 out of 3 diagrams on the Ellesmere Port line are booked for 777s.
There is a morning diagram on the New Brighton line that turns into an afternoon diagram on the West Kirby line that's booked a 777. More often than not though it runs as a 507/8.

So for a Chester to Liverpool run on 50x stock, I could be on for a long wait. Or do the 50x tend to work a particular service on that route or is it more or less random day to day?