Merseyrail 777 introduction

[karlbbb]

Now that the introduction of all units has been completed (and introduction thread closed), it seems worthwhile to open a new thread for ongoing discussions and issues relating to the 777s. For example, I believe we still have 777004 out of service as it has been cannibalised for parts for a number of months now.

Additionally, the operation of 8-car formations south of Liverpool Central has not begun, due to delays in trackside equipment (now in place). Driver training for SDO is ongoing, with empty 8-car trains running between Kirkdale depot and Liverpool South Parkway daily. To this end, the reversion of services to Southport <-> Hunts Cross and Ormskirk <-> Central currently shows on RTT as happening on w/c Monday 4th August. Are we still expecting this to be realistic, or will it be pushed back again?

 

[tfw756rider]

Hi,

So the date of first entry to service of Class 777 (according to Wikipedia) was the 23/1/23 - can anyone in here provide me with separate dates of first entry to service of subclasses 777/0 and 777/1 please?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jun 2025 ==

Hi,

So the date of first entry to service of Class 777 (according to Wikipedia) was the 23/1/23 - can anyone in here provide me with separate dates of first entry to service of subclasses 777/0 and 777/1 please?

Would I be right in saying that the 23/1/23 was the date that subclass 777/0 entered service, and that the 5/10/23 was the date that subclass 777/1 entered service (the latter based on Headbolt Lane railway station's opening date)?

 

[theblackwatch]

Would I be right in saying that the 23/1/23 was the date that subclass 777/0 entered service, and that the 5/10/23 was the date that subclass 777/1 entered service (the latter based on Headbolt Lane railway station's opening date)?

Yes - 777049 (23/01) and 777142 (05/10) were the first of each sub-class.

 

[tfw756rider]

Yes - 777049 (23/01) and 777142 (05/10) were the first of each sub-class.

Many thanks!

 

[TheSel]

It is being reported today on BBC (link here) that:

"There will be extra train capacity in place to cope with increased demand when Everton play their first home game of the season at their new stadium, the Liverpool City Region mayor has said."

...

"Steve Rotheram has promised to double capacity on some Merseyrail services after facing criticism after a test event in March saw a high level of demand.

He said he would "squeeze every single ounce out of the capacity in the network we've got"."

...

""There were problems with people hours before trying to get into town and we only had four carriage trains on," Mr Rotheram said.

"So there will be eight carriages from an earlier start."

How realistic is it that 8 car formations will appear anywhere other than on services north of Liverpool Central by that date (23 August 2025)?

 

[jamesst]

It is being reported today on BBC (link here) that:

"There will be extra train capacity in place to cope with increased demand when Everton play their first home game of the season at their new stadium, the Liverpool City Region mayor has said."

...

"Steve Rotheram has promised to double capacity on some Merseyrail services after facing criticism after a test event in March saw a high level of demand.

He said he would "squeeze every single ounce out of the capacity in the network we've got"."

...

""There were problems with people hours before trying to get into town and we only had four carriage trains on," Mr Rotheram said.

"So there will be eight carriages from an earlier start."


How realistic is it that 8 car formations will appear anywhere other than on services north of Liverpool Central by that date (23 August 2025)?

There should be some on Southports, Hunts Cross and Ormskirks by then

 

[MR-507508]

RTT is now showing the current set-up (Hunts Cross to Ormskirk, Liverpool Central to Southport) until at least the start of October. This has recently been updated, with it previously showing the start of August for reverting back.

 

[karlbbb]

RTT is now showing the current set-up (Hunts Cross to Ormskirk, Liverpool Central to Southport) until at least the start of October. This has recently been updated, with it previously showing the start of August for reverting back.

Certainly disappointing. There are daily runs of empty 8-car trains from Kirkdale to South Parkway and back - are there really that many drivers who still haven't been trained on SDO?

 

[jamesst]

Certainly disappointing. There are daily runs of empty 8-car trains from Kirkdale to South Parkway and back - are there really that many drivers who still haven't been trained on SDO?

You've no idea how short of drivers they are, resource are miracle workers

 

[Liverpool 507]

You've no idea how short of drivers they are, resource are miracle workers

Is this the reason why this has been pushed back?

 

[jamesst]

Is this the reason why this has been pushed back?

Pretty much

 

[Northerngirl]

Just seen 150 & 029 are coupled at Kirkdale at the moment (first /1 & /0 pair?), as well as another pair with "train on test" barriers in the doors

 

[childwallblues]

Just seen 150 & 029 are coupled at Kirkdale at the moment (first /1 & /0 pair?), as well as another pair with "train on test" barriers in the doors

I saw 140 coupled to a /0 a couple of months ago on Kirkdale Depot and assumed that it was a shunt movement.

 

[MR-507508]

Have 2 battery units (7771's) ever been coupled together and ran in passenger service as an 8 Car?
I guess 8 Cars are highly unlikely to feature on the Headbolt Lane line?

 

[jamesst]

Have 2 battery units (7771's) ever been coupled together and ran in passenger service as an 8 Car?
I guess 8 Cars are highly unlikely to feature on the Headbolt Lane line?

No, there's no plans for 8 cars on the Headbolt line

 

[childwallblues]

I saw 4 x 777/1 (777140/42/46/48) in dervice yesterday and all had X in the window.

 

[Tramfan]

Just seen 150 & 029 are coupled at Kirkdale at the moment (first /1 & /0 pair?), as well as another pair with "train on test" barriers in the doors

A lot of the /1s seemed to have non-multi stickers in the cabs that I saw yesterday. The one with the barriers in the doors did the Kirkdale to Liverpool South Parkway run in the afternoon (012+016)

 

[M28361M]

There seems to have been another software update, as the train I was on earlier (didn’t get the number, sorry) had some of the Julie Berry announcements, such as “please move down the train”, replaced by a male voice.

 

[Bayum]

Now that the introduction of all units has been completed (and introduction thread closed), it seems worthwhile to open a new thread for ongoing discussions and issues relating to the 777s. For example, I believe we still have 777004 out of service as it has been cannibalised for parts for a number of months now.

Additionally, the operation of 8-car formations south of Liverpool Central has not begun, due to delays in trackside equipment (now in place). Driver training for SDO is ongoing, with empty 8-car trains running between Kirkdale depot and Liverpool South Parkway daily. To this end, the reversion of services to Southport <-> Hunts Cross and Ormskirk <-> Central currently shows on RTT as happening on w/c Monday 4th August. Are we still expecting this to be realistic, or will it be pushed back again?

Why has a train already been cannibalised for parts? Are they in such short supply already?

 

[childwallblues]

/Why has a train already been cannibalised for parts? Are they in such short supply alread

Why has a train already been cannibalised for parts? Are they in such short supply already?

On Tuesday 777004 was outside the depot in the sidings next to the running lines. Is this an indicator that the unit is ready to return to service?

 

[karlbbb]

On Tuesday 777004 was outside the depot in the sidings next to the running lines. Is this an indicator that the unit is ready to return to service?

Given it's now sat back in its usual spot with at least a missing wiper and headlight (and not properly shut front door - probably a bit wet in the cab) I'd say that looks unlikely.

 

[baldyman26]

There has definitely been an update to the trains. New announcements and video's playing. The guard said it's something to do with 8 cars so they must be nearly ready to go to Hunts Cross

 

[MR-507508]

You've no idea how short of drivers they are, resource are miracle workers

I noticed there have been quite a few cancellations this week related to a shortage of train crew, in particular last night due to train managers leading to cancellation of a few Ormskirk services last night.
How come staffing of drivers and train managers have become such as issue in recent years?
It was very rare to see Merseyrail services cancelled due to a shortage of train crew a few years ago.

 

[Skie]

There seems to have been another software update, as the train I was on earlier (didn’t get the number, sorry) had some of the Julie Berry announcements, such as “please move down the train”, replaced by a male voice.

I'm glad to have less of her. Gives her more time to spend on twitter retweeting more anti-vax lunacy.

 

[M28361M]

There has definitely been an update to the trains. New announcements and video's playing. The guard said it's something to do with 8 cars so they must be nearly ready to go to Hunts Cross

I noticed some ”SDO override” signs have appeared near the platform ends at St Michaels and Aigburth recently.

 

[Liverpool 507]

I'm glad to have less of her. Gives her more time to spend on twitter retweeting more anti-vax lunacy.

Despite of this, the male voice I find very AI and irritating.

I noticed some ”SDO override” signs have appeared near the platform ends at St Michaels and Aigburth recently.

There are also new signs on the end of most island platforms on the Southport line informing drivers of a reminder on which side to release doors at and if they are a 4 or 8 car service.

There seems to have been another software update, as the train I was on earlier (didn’t get the number, sorry) had some of the Julie Berry announcements, such as “please move down the train”, replaced by a male voice.

777007.

I have also noticed various units are absolutely filthy inside, like they haven’t been mopped for days. You can also see dirt build up under seats and in corner areas. Clearly the trains aren’t getting hoovered/swept either. I’ve also heard that units that stable at Southport and wirral line stations do not get cleaned by Stadler overnight. Any biohazards onboard are cleaned by station staff!

 

[jamesst]

Despite of this, the male voice I find very AI and irritating.

There are also new signs on the end of most island platforms on the Southport line informing drivers of a reminder on which side to release doors at and if they are a 4 or 8 car service.

777007.

I have also noticed various units are absolutely filthy inside, like they haven’t been mopped for days. You can also see dirt build up under seats and in corner areas. Clearly the trains aren’t getting hoovered/swept either. I’ve also heard that units that stable at Southport and wirral line stations do not get cleaned by Stadler overnight. Any biohazards onboard are cleaned by station staff!

Yeah thats not true, Stadler clean units at both Southport and the Wirral stabling points.

The extent to which station staff are used is to put resolve down on any biohazard which happens during the day which will then be swept later. This has been the process literally for years.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Jul 2025 ==

I noticed there have been quite a few cancellations this week related to a shortage of train crew, in particular last night due to train managers leading to cancellation of a few Ormskirk services last night.
How come staffing of drivers and train managers have become such as issue in recent years?
It was very rare to see Merseyrail services cancelled due to a shortage of train crew a few years ago.

Sickness and retirements amongst other things. Recruitment has struggled to keep up esp at Kirkdale which has suffered quite badly compared to the other 2 depots.

 

[childwallblues]

It is odd that Merseyrail have problems cleaning at Southport at night yet Northern who stable units there can send a cleaning crew from Allerton Depot.

 

[jamesst]

It is odd that Merseyrail have problems cleaning at Southport at night yet Northern who stable units there can send a cleaning crew from Allerton Depot.

As said above a Stadler cleaning crew goes to Southport every night

 

[childwallblues]

As said above a Stadler cleaning crew goes to Southport every night

My apologies I misread the post.