Merseyrail and CSRE

[First class]

CSRE have submitted an expression of interest for the replacement Merseyrail stock. The design is called the Pulsar E (3rd rail DC).

http://www.csre.co.uk/files/Download/2010_Pulsar_Data_Sheet_v2.pdf

The cab comes in the half size version with an egress "device" so would conform to the Underground tunnel evacuation requirements. It can be formed from between 2 and 12 coaches and apparantly it is fairly simple to "marshal" into a new formation.

Air Conditioning is not provided in the passenger saloon (but is for traincrew), but probably wouldn't be much good on the stop-start network anyway.

The MD Bart Schmeink's linkedin page has some association with various Chinese railway enterprises and internal rumours are also pointing to this being a favourite.

Certainly looks good anyway....

With a big crossrail and IEP order taking up a lot of other manufacturers time and space, potentially CSRE may be in the best position to manufacture such stock for Merseyrail.

 

[jopsuk]

Bombardier's Class 378 (London Overground) and S-Stock (London Underground) are both designed for stop-start Metro running, and both feature AC in the passenger saloon.

 

[Kingfisher200262]

CSRE have submitted an expression of interest for the replacement Merseyrail stock. The design is called the Pulsar E (3rd rail DC).

http://www.csre.co.uk/files/Download/2010_Pulsar_Data_Sheet_v2.pdf

The cab comes in the half size version with an egress "device" so would conform to the Underground tunnel evacuation requirements. It can be formed from between 2 and 12 coaches and apparantly it is fairly simple to "marshal" into a new formation.

Air Conditioning is not provided in the passenger saloon (but is for traincrew), but probably wouldn't be much good on the stop-start network anyway.

The MD Bart Schmeink's linkedin page has some association with various Chinese railway enterprises and internal rumours are also pointing to this being a favourite.

Certainly looks good anyway....

With a big crossrail and IEP order taking up a lot of other manufacturers time and space, potentially CSRE may be in the best position to manufacture such stock for Merseyrail.

CSRE is one of a number of companies that have expressed interest in a potential rolling stock opportunity, which at this stage is only a market testing exercise, being conducted by Merseytravel (Merseyside PTE).

To the best of my knowledge, Merseyrail, as operator would not be directly involved in the procurement process (if there were one, and that is far from certain) for new trains.

Regarding saloon air conditioning, this is offered as an option in the Pulsar product. Naturally, air con brings a weight, energy and maintenance cost penalty and it will be for the customer in any project to decide whether it is necessary.

Sorry not to be more forthcoming on this particular thread, but it would be inappropriate. Anyone who wants to ask general questions about Pulsar as a product is welcome, perhaps via another thread and I will do my best to answer.

 

[185]

Whoever mocked up that LOROL set into Merseyrail colours did a good job... so much so that at least one from Merseyrail's 9th floor office has it as their desktop wallpaper

With the Chinese being encouraged to invest in Liverpool & Wirral, this could be a good springboard for local growth if CSRE are chosen.

 

[Chris125]

For years to come there'll be big brownie points for putting orders Derby way - the 378 seems a natural fit.

 

[asylumxl]

For years to come there'll be big brownie points for putting orders Derby way - the 378 seems a natural fit.

And that's why Siemens was picked over Bombardier for TL? I'm sure that the folk on the GEML with their 379s would disagree with you.

 

[First class]

By 2017, I imagine the 378 production line will be well gone!

 

[Burkitt]

Whoever mocked up that LOROL set into Merseyrail colours did a good job... so much so that at least one from Merseyrail's 9th floor office has it as their desktop wallpaper

This one...

Image by Paul Burkitt-Gray, based on a photo by Wikimedia user Sunil060902, distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike License.

Would be great to see it happen for real, though CSRE entering the UK market would also be interesting to say the least.

Paul

 

[150001]

Would be great to see this. It helps the UK economy as well. They need to support the home market trains.

 

[cj_1985]

For years to come there'll be big brownie points for putting orders Derby way - the 378 seems a natural fit.

the 378 would make sense since its designed for the sort of start/stop commuter work that seems to fit the MerseyRail network...

is: dual voltage - if MerseyTravel wanted to some services to operate beyond the 3rd rail as was suggested a few years back, and makes sense with most of the other electrification in the North west being OHLE

and has the "escape hatch" built into the cabfront... ideal for evacuation in the tunnels

 

[jopsuk]

It's also running on routes previously served by 313s and even 508s, similar to/the same thing as Merseyrail's current fleet.

 

[asylumxl]

the 378 would make sense since its designed for the sort of start/stop commuter work that seems to fit the MerseyRail network...

is: dual voltage - if MerseyTravel wanted to some services to operate beyond the 3rd rail as was suggested a few years back, and makes sense with most of the other electrification in the North west being OHLE

and has the "escape hatch" built into the cabfront... ideal for evacuation in the tunnels

These are all qualities a CSRE train could have too though.

The 377/8/9s are far from perfect, with most recent orders from Derby experiencing problems, some more severe than others.

While the 378 seems superficially better than the 377/5s and 379s, they've had their fair share of failures too.

 

[cj_1985]

fair enough... but siemens units are far from perfect...
every builders trains have had problems...

Bombardier - yes some technical problems, and issues caused by late delivery of parts

Siemens - yes, technical, and delayed delivery due to delivered units not being upto spec

Alstom - yes.. numerous mechanical issues, design issues , after sale support issues

Hitachi - yes, poor ride quality and iirc they are heavy beasts

CSRE - none built yet for UK or Europe

 

[asylumxl]

CSRE - none built yet for UK or Europe

No major failures so far. By far the most superior manufacturer then!

 

[150001]

Rather you didn't say that with the LM 172s coming into service very soon!

 

[bluenoxid]

It's also running on routes previously served by 313s and even 508s, similar to/the same thing as Merseyrail's current fleet.

Would a Tube Train such as those being made redundant on the District line not fulfil the same requirements for Merseyrail.

 

[ukrob]

Too wide.

 

[jopsuk]

I reckon Merseyrail might be after actual new stock...

 

[MCR247]

Would a Tube Train such as those being made redundant on the District line not fulfil the same requirements for Merseyrail.

I know lets replace 33 year old stock with 31 year old stock!

 

[mallard]

Too wide.

Quite. Depsite being part of the London Underground and therefore colloquially known as "the Tube", the Circle, District, Ham & City and Metropolitan lines aren't really "tube" railways at all, they're "sub-surface" (most of their tunnels were built using the cut-and-cover method, rather than actual tunnelling) and their loading guage is actually slightly _larger_ than Network Rail (hence the circuitous route that S stock has to take from Derby to London - clearance issues).