Polarbear
Established Member
Can’t say I’m an expert, but yes, 004 has worked in passenger service. There are posts early in this thread that reflect that.
I understand it’s been out of service for well over 2 years.
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Merseyrail 777 introduction
- Thread starter karlbbb
- Start date
I understand it’s been out of service for well over 2 years.
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MR-507508
Member
I am by no means an expert, however I can confirm 777004 has worked in passenger service with its first passenger working on 25th April 2023 on the Kirkby line. It was pulled from service around March 2024 and to the best of my understanding has not worked since.
*Interesting point to note regarding 004, it was the first 777 to work on the New Brighton line in passenger service on Monday 21st August 2023. The second 777 unit to work in passenger service on the Wirral, with 018 being the first a few weeks earlier for the Open Golf tournament at Hoylake.
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The Metro Mayor is not named after a town in Yorkshire.
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Yes, I had 777 004 for haulage in 15th March 2024.
Yeah slightly earlier than above but I had it 30/6/23 on the 1531 Liv cen-ormskirk, not that this is of any help to the poor soul that's chasing itYes, I had 777 004 for haulage in 15th March 2024.
Polarbear
Established Member
I am one of those "poor souls"
I started using Merseyrail more once I obtained my concessionary pass & except for the battery units, have travelled on all the others, (except 004) on both Northern & Wirral lines. It's quite surprising how often they swap between the routes.
I will second that one. Last year a friend and I stayed in Crewe for the week and we decided on one of them days we would go off and do our own thing. So I jumped a 197 to Chester and then did the Merseyrail into Liverpool, after two more trips I got everything I needed except 777004 which I have photted sitting outside Kirkdale depot.I am one of those "poor souls"
Regularly keeping an eye on this forum and on RTT to see if it is in traffic. Doing another week's holiday in Crewe in July this year and hoping it may make a return cause I don't really see the point of travelling all the way from Norwich to Liverpool for a single 777.
Alan508
Member
No point, doubt it will be in service by then anyway.
I like to keep an optimistic view, but I feel I have to agree with you on this one. We'll see what happens.
Sam 76
Member
One day it’s gonna appear on a random 8 car formation and we will all be double taking lolI like to keep an optimistic view, but I feel I have to agree with you on this one. We'll see what happens.
A temporary timetable for the Open Golf at Royal Birkdale has appeared on RTT for 16-19 July. Seems to be every 20 minutes across the Northern Line, with extra limited stop shuttles from both Liverpool and Southport to Hillside.
Cressington gets the short straw again, with every other train seemingly not stopping, so frequency is reduced to every 40 minutes.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Seems a slightly bizarre arrangement. Why change the timetable to run Southport-Hunts Cross when this restricts the ability to run 8-car trains, which you think would be needed to deal with event crowds? Unless they think the SDO issue will be fixed by then?!
Cressington gets the short straw again, with every other train seemingly not stopping, so frequency is reduced to every 40 minutes.
Realtime Trains | Departures from Cressington all day on 19/07/2026
Train information at Cressington all day on 19/07/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Seems a slightly bizarre arrangement. Why change the timetable to run Southport-Hunts Cross when this restricts the ability to run 8-car trains, which you think would be needed to deal with event crowds? Unless they think the SDO issue will be fixed by then?!
maybe they are expecting a lot of people to change train at south parkway and so want them straight through to hillside, to keep the pressure off central and lime streetA temporary timetable for the Open Golf at Royal Birkdale has appeared on RTT for 16-19 July. Seems to be every 20 minutes across the Northern Line, with extra limited stop shuttles from both Liverpool and Southport to Hillside.
Cressington gets the short straw again, with every other train seemingly not stopping, so frequency is reduced to every 40 minutes.
Realtime Trains | Departures from Cressington all day on 19/07/2026
Train information at Cressington all day on 19/07/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Seems a slightly bizarre arrangement. Why change the timetable to run Southport-Hunts Cross when this restricts the ability to run 8-car trains, which you think would be needed to deal with event crowds? Unless they think the SDO issue will be fixed by then?!
That makes a lot of sense actually, especially with Avanti trains from London now stopping at LPY. Still not brilliant for Cressington users though, and highlights the need to get SDO sorted out, even if the through Hunts Cross-Southport service isn't restored
It'll be for people coming up from the south to go via South Parkway and people flying in to LJLA.
I do hope the service is restored but in my eyes it will be whether that be in 2030 or not otherwise, having things like 30 minute evening frequencies and shorter peak time services for the airport interchange is contradicting record airport numbers.
From a non TOC point of view I really do miss the old trains!
Seeing a lot more 8 car tests on the Hunts Cross branch in person recently, cannot be long now for things to go back to normal.
Once they do I feel as though there'll be a big timetable recast because the current timetable is awfully timed for the 777s.
Good news for businesses though in Lark Lane.
Passenger numbers for St Michaels have had knock on effects on trade for Lark Lane with the 30min service in evenings - numbers are significantly down, even with Radio1 being taken into account for 25/26. Sooner it's sorted the better.
Once they do I feel as though there'll be a big timetable recast because the current timetable is awfully timed for the 777s.
Good news for businesses though in Lark Lane.
Passenger numbers for St Michaels have had knock on effects on trade for Lark Lane with the 30min service in evenings - numbers are significantly down, even with Radio1 being taken into account for 25/26. Sooner it's sorted the better.
Does anyone know what this train was? 5T77 0125 Rock Ferry to Rock Ferry via Chester and a couple of circuits of the loop (although it didn't complete the full journey by the looks of it)
The headcode 5T77 is usually used for a 777 test run so I assume that's what it was. Something to do with SDO or something else?
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
The headcode 5T77 is usually used for a 777 test run so I assume that's what it was. Something to do with SDO or something else?
Realtime Trains | 5T77 0125 Rock Ferry to Rock Ferry | 01/06/2026
Real-time train running information for 5T77 0125 departure from Rock Ferry to Rock Ferry on 01/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
I highly doubt its for SDO as they don’t have enough trains for wirral line 8 car operation, despite the fact on things like Everton & Liverpool matchdays its desperately needed.
I thought all the platforms had been extended to fit, Green Lane will always be tight but the end carriage doors are far enough in that if the stop in the right place it should be ok. It managed 6 car 507/8s.
The other solution would be to make Ellesmere Port run every 15 minutes which would increase capacity and mean Hooton-Liverpool would have consistent 7 or 8 minute gaps between trains rather than the current 7, 8, 15 pattern. But I don't think there are units for that any more than there are for 8 car service on the current timetable.
jamesst
Established Member
Green Lane only managed because the old stock had grandfather rights which meant the front /back doors on a 6 could be opened only on a little staff walkway. Announcements inside mentioned this.
Hamilton Square and Bidston are the other asdo platforms on Wirral.
Sam 76
Member
777016 and 777041 formed the 06:21 2U03 this morning. First 8 car to call in service at Cressington. Major milestone all round
The trouble with the Ellesmere Port branch is its continual underperformance, whilst Chester goes from strength to strength. If anything I would try to go for a solution that enhanced Chester further.
Information posters have popped up on the network (either today or yesterday) regarding the SDO at Cressington - commuters are now advised whether they need to get in the front 4 cars or rear 4 cars to disembark at Cressington.
Hopefully this marks the beginning of the end for the Ormskirk-Hunts Cross line and a return to all-day Southport-Hunts Cross services (with 15min trains in the evenings), although I'm sure someone with more knowledge than me can correct me if that's unlikely!
Hopefully this marks the beginning of the end for the Ormskirk-Hunts Cross line and a return to all-day Southport-Hunts Cross services (with 15min trains in the evenings), although I'm sure someone with more knowledge than me can correct me if that's unlikely!
The poster in question:
For the benefit of those who can't see the image, it's a photo of a poster in the booking hall at Aigburth station. Text reads:
For the benefit of those who can't see the image, it's a photo of a poster in the booking hall at Aigburth station. Text reads:
Since it's not possible to walk between coupled units, one would hope the train managers will be proactive in ushering people to the right part of the train.
MR-507508
Member
Tried out the 8 car operation yesterday with SDO in play.
Multiple announcements on board the train informing passengers regarding Cressington. The screens on board also displayed the information regarding the situation at Cressington. The train manager for the service I was on also worked his way through informing passengers.
The rear most set of doors also don't open at St Michaels travelling towards Hunts Cross and Aigburth travelling towards Liverpool Central.
Looks like the same formation ran again this morning, at least according to Gemini data.