Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

[pokemonsuper9]

I concurr that a large number of (but not all) 777s had non-multi signs on Saturday.

 

[WirralLine]

Software update - some issues with the latest version apparently.

 

[HJ10001]

I've noticed that the class 777/1 hybrids are being used on other parts of the Northern Line, when not being used on the Headbolt Lane service.

Have any been seen on the Wirral line or are they not allowed in the loop line tunnels?

 

[jamesst]

I've noticed that the class 777/1 hybrids are being used on other parts of the Northern Line, when not being used on the Headbolt Lane service.

Have any been seen on the Wirral line or are they not allowed in the loop line tunnels?

The vast majority of Wirral drivers aren't trained on the 777/1s .

 

[Northerngirl]

The vast majority of Wirral drivers aren't trained on the 777/1s .

The enduring ability for our railways to need training for absolutely everything no matter how small & unused shouldn't surprise me. With how unreliable they are, surely someone could say "this is a /1, don't press the battery button" and we'd have slightly better wirral reliability

 

[jamesst]

The enduring ability for our railways to need training for absolutely everything no matter how small & unused shouldn't surprise me. With how unreliable they are, surely someone could say "this is a /1, don't press the battery button" and we'd have slightly better wirral reliability

Actually there's quite a bit more to learn about them than 'just don't press that button' including more traction and cab equipment so yes full training would be needed.
4 are needed for Headbolts with 1 more spare. Any more spares are used on Ormskirks which are closest to the depot.
Theres no point in training all of Wirral on them when the chances of them running there are miniscule.

 

[MR-507508]

Passing Birkenhead North depot this morning and there was a 777 (019) in the main shed. First time I have seen one in the main shed.
Do the 777s require another unit to pull them out the shed. When I went passed again 1 hour later, it had gone and I don't believe there was another 777 on the depot to assist?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Passing Birkenhead North depot this morning and there was a 777 (019) in the main shed. First time I have seen one in the main shed.
Do the 777s require another unit to pull them out the shed. When I went passed again 1 hour later, it had gone and I don't believe there was another 777 on the depot to assist?

The 777/0s have small batteries that can be used for depot movements (and other small, low speed movements)

 

[507016]

The 777/0s have small batteries that can be used for depot movements (and other small, low speed movements)

How were the 507s shunted out in the summer of last year when repairs were taking place

 

[pokemonsuper9]

How were the 507s shunted out in the summer of last year when repairs were taking place

They probably also had batteries?
Wikipedia indicates that 507s had a battery in the 643xx carriage, but doesn't state if it is a traction/depot battery or lights and stuff.
I assume it's for depot movements like the 777s'

 

[Skie]

50x batteries were just for lights/aux power.

 

[MR-507508]

50x batteries were just for lights/aux power.

For 50x's they always required another unit to pull them out of the shed, however with 777s they don't require another unit?

 

[Skie]

For 50x's they always required another unit to pull them out of the shed, however with 777s they don't require another unit?

The 777s have traction batteries for depot moves. So no, they don't need another unit.

 

[tfw756rider]

The enduring ability for our railways to need training for absolutely everything no matter how small & unused shouldn't surprise me. With how unreliable they are, surely someone could say "this is a /1, don't press the battery button" and we'd have slightly better wirral reliability

Actually there's quite a bit more to learn about them than 'just don't press that button' including more traction and cab equipment so yes full training would be needed.
4 are needed for Headbolts with 1 more spare. Any more spares are used on Ormskirks which are closest to the depot.
Theres no point in training all of Wirral on them when the chances of them running there are miniscule.

I thought that (in general with trains on the British national rail network) driver training was per class rather than per subclass, but obviously not in this case. Yet the 777/1s are apparently not different enough to the 777/0s to be 778s?

 

[73001]

The 777/0s have small batteries that can be used for depot movements (and other small, low speed movements)

A week or so ago, one of the 777s got stuck near to Aintree when we had the third rail killer, icy rain then more freezing temperatures. People were stuck on the train for 4 hours or so, a few hundred meters from the station. Is there any reason they wouldn't use those depot batteries to move the train?

 

[Pacef8]

Probable glue solid from their shoes . 4 hours is unacceptable though.

 

[Bikeman78]

Probable glue solid from their shoes . 4 hours is unacceptable though.

I have travelled on third rail trains during icy and snowy weather. Never had one glue itself to the third rail. Only one failure. Struggled to get up a steep climb. The shoes were arcing bright white so the driver cut his losses and called for assistance. A class 73 arrived three hours later. All shoes still attached to the unit and the train took off like a rocket with the 73 and units all powering.

 

[vjm1975]

I have travelled on third rail trains during icy and snowy weather. Never had one glue itself to the third rail. Only one failure. Struggled to get up a steep climb. The shoes were arcing bright white so the driver cut his losses and called for assistance. A class 73 arrived three hours later. All shoes still attached to the unit and the train took off like a rocket with the 73 and units all powering.

The 507/508s were pretty good at welding themselves to the third rail.

 

[Bikeman78]

The 507/508s were pretty good at welding themselves to the third rail.

Presumably that would happen at a station as it tries to pull away? Difficult to see how anything is going to weld whilst moving. The only significant climbs I can think of are emerging from the tunnels in Liverpool.

 

[tumbledown]

The 507/508s were pretty good at welding themselves to the third rail.

What is the remedy for that? Whack the shoe with a hammer?

 

[Pacef8]

Without any sandite application from the train i was thinking frozen to the third rail.

 

[jamesst]

Presumably that would happen at a station as it tries to pull away? Difficult to see how anything is going to weld whilst moving. The only significant climbs I can think of are emerging from the tunnels in Liverpool.

It could and did happen mid journey if the train ran into an area where the live rail is significantly frozen.
The remedy could be from as simple as waiting for it to thaw to having to cut off the shoe gear.

 

[MR-507508]

BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend is taking place at Sefton Park this year on Friday 23 May – Sunday 25 May.

I guess, 8 Car class 777s will be really needed on the Hunts Cross route in time for this event taking place.

Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025 to take place in Liverpool

Sam Fender announced as first headliner with Myles Smith, Wet Leg, Blossoms and Lola Young also set to perform

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Sam 76]

For this interested in this sort of thing 777146 is making a rare appearance on the Southport line this morning.

 

[TheSel]

For this interested in this sort of thing 777146 is making a rare appearance on the Southport line this morning.

Working 1002 LVC-SOP right now. Should work 1106 SOP-LVC and repeat every two hours if anyone's out hunting.

 

[karlbbb]

Is there any news on the horizon about the Hunts Cross line being switched back to Southport services?

 

[mcnw35282]

Just a quick question about frozen third rails...is there no way they could attatch some sort of heating element to the rail?

 

[Elecman]

Yes and has been tried Onondaga thee Southern region but it’s very expensive to run

 

[urban]

Is there any news on the horizon about the Hunts Cross line being switched back to Southport services?

I haven't heard anything but I hope it's soon. The 30 minute evening service on the Hunts Cross line is really inconvenient for me

 

[MR-507508]

Is there any news on the horizon about the Hunts Cross line being switched back to Southport services?

It's still showing as WC 7th April on RTT as the return date for the usual workings (Ormskirk to Central and Hunts Cross to Southport), however that could change nearer the time.