Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

[Pacef8]

3 years now since their introduction

 

[prod_pep]

3 years now since their introduction

They weren't introduced to service until January 2023, so not quite two years yet in service. However, it is nearly five years since the first one was delivered to Liverpool.

 

[Bevan Price]

Further to my post #7522 above. Merseyrail have now published the special Boxing Day timetable, which will see through running for one day only between Southport and Liverpool South Parkway. Full details here (towards the bottom of the page) Essentially every 30 mins 0857 - 1827 from South Parkway, and 0858 - 1758 from Southport.

Does anyone know whether these will see the first 8 car operations south of Liverpool Central? As only selected stations are open that day (specifically only South Parkway and St Michaels) is the absence of Selective Door Opening still a problem at those stations?

Unless there is a big football match, I don't think that any 8 coach formations will be needed on Boxing Day.
(Based on travelling experience on previous Boxing Days - reasonable numbers of passengers, but never enough to overload any of the trains I used)

 

[MR-507508]

Unless there is a big football match, I don't think that any 8 coach formations will be needed on Boxing Day.
(Based on travelling experience on previous Boxing Days - reasonable numbers of passengers, but never enough to overload any of the trains I used)

There is racing on at Aintree on Boxing Day and as a result there are some additional Liverpool to Aintree services, whether these maybe 8 Cars. Last year a 6 Car 507 worked these additional runs.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Dec 2024 ==

Two of the Southport diagrams today (Sunday 8th December) are being worked by 8 Cars. I believe this is the first time on a Sunday 8 Cars have worked on the network?

 

[D1053WP]

Can anyone confirm where 777035 was as of 12:15 on Monday 9th December 2024

I was trying to identify which units were visible and parked up

777008 was on is own and clearly identifiable

777003 + 1 and 777004 + 1 were identifiable with binoculars on the right hand side from Kirkdale station

777021 and 777028 were in the centre and identifiable with binoculars

There were two at the far back (near the bank and wall) which I could not identify, one of which is very likely to be 777035

Can anyone confirm these two please

 

[Brian Bennett]

Can anyone confirm where 777035 was as of 12:15 on Monday 9th December 2024

I was trying to identify which units were visible and parked up

777008 was on is own and clearly identifiable

777003 + 1 and 777004 + 1 were identifiable with binoculars on the right hand side from Kirkdale station

777021 and 777028 were in the centre and identifiable with binoculars

There were two at the far back (near the bank and wall) which I could not identify, one of which is very likely to be 777035

Can anyone confirm these two please

I can confirm that 777035 was parked up against the back wall last week.

 

[D1053WP]

I can confirm that 777035 was parked up against the back wall last week.

Many thanks you are a godsend

 

[WarrenT]

Anybody know why the West Kirby timetable has changed, it’s the first I’ve noticed. I’m presuming it’s the whole Wirral line not just West Kirby.


Also why can you no longer “pre call” the doors, used to be able to press the button before the train stopped and then when the driver unlocked them the doors would open automatically. Seems like a silly thing to remove given how useful it is because I always feel awkward stood at the door with my hand on the button for 5 seconds.

 

[WirralLine]

Also why can you no longer “pre call” the doors, used to be able to press the button before the train stopped and then when the driver unlocked them the doors would open automatically. Seems like a silly thing to remove given how useful it is because I always feel awkward stood at the door with my hand on the button for 5 seconds.

Because the drivers keep releasing them on the wrong side, so if a kid for example is leaning on the door playing with the button or whatever, in the event of an accidental wrong side release the doors won't open immediately and people won't be as likely to fall out.

 

[DJH1971]

I can confirm that 777035 was parked up against the back wall last week.

Is 777035 the only remaining unit not yet in service?

 

[Jamesrob637]

This thread can probably be locked soon, as can the 507 thread, now that everything is guaranteed 777.

 

[43096]

Because the drivers keep releasing them on the wrong side, so if a kid for example is leaning on the door playing with the button or whatever, in the event of an accidental wrong side release the doors won't open immediately and people won't be as likely to fall out.

How very British. Elsewhere it isn’t an issue, but here we have to tie ourselves up in knots and make the service slower.

 

[childwallblues]

This thread can probably be locked soon, as can the 507 thread, now that everything is guaranteed 777.

No in service date yet for 777035.
Although not in service there are still 4 x 507s at Birkenhesd North EMUD.

 

[DJH1971]

No in service date yet for 777035.
Although not in service there are still 4 x 507s at Birkenhesd North EMUD.

I gather 777035 is still having issues?

 

[childwallblues]

I gather 777035 is still having issues?

A Monday morning build then!

 

[The_Train]

Merseyrail have just published this.

Why can this not be done after end of service so as not to disrupt passengers?

 

[Bikeman78]

Because the drivers keep releasing them on the wrong side, so if a kid for example is leaning on the door playing with the button or whatever, in the event of an accidental wrong side release the doors won't open immediately and people won't be as likely to fall out.

How often is this happening? In more than 30 years of travelling, I cannot think of any occasion where the doors have opened on the wrong side.

 

[D365]

This thread can probably be locked soon, as can the 507 thread, now that everything is guaranteed 777.

Is this thread not a useful ”sounding board” to discuss 777 reliability and any remaining teething troubles?

 

[DJH1971]

Is this thread not a useful ”sounding board” to discuss 777 reliability and any remaining teething troubles?

Just need to wait for 777035 to enter service, as this I believe is the only remaining unit not yet taking passengers.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Is this thread not a useful ”sounding board” to discuss 777 reliability and any remaining teething troubles?

It should do a TfW Mk4 thread if anything, and be used to discuss trips up/down/across to Merseyside.

 

[WirralLine]

How often is this happening? In more than 30 years of travelling, I cannot think of any occasion where the doors have opened on the wrong side.

Not as often as it was but it still happens.

Is this thread not a useful ”sounding board” to discuss 777 reliability and any remaining teething troubles?

I'd argue it should remain open for updates/progress on 8car operations at least.

 

[razor89]

How very British. Elsewhere it isn’t an issue, but here we have to tie ourselves up in knots and make the service slower.

Don't know if this is the same as on other units, but on 777s the preselect function armed the doors on both sides of the train, so in the event of a wrong side door release, the doors on the wrong side would open even if the open button had only been pressed on the correct side.

 

[RichardAsh1981]

on 777s the preselect function armed the doors on both sides of the train, so in the event of a wrong side door release, the doors on the wrong side would open even if the open button had only been pressed on the correct side.

And no-one in the design process thought this was a completely avoidable risk which, at the design stage, should have cost next to nothing to avoid? Instead passengers suffer slower journeys and reduced capacity for the next 40 years.

 

[Northerngirl]

How come metrolink seems to have had no issues with an identical system for the past 15 years

 

[Grumpy Git]

And no-one in the design process thought this was a completely avoidable risk which, at the design stage, should have cost next to nothing to avoid? Instead passengers suffer slower journeys and reduced capacity for the next 40 years.

You're obviously not aware that software engineers like to reinvent the wheel at every available opportunity, (including updates to existing software).

No I'm not joking (and I've got 40+ years experience of working with the so and so's).

One had bloke convince himself that a PLC he had replaced (due to a hardware fault), needed the software 'tweaking' as it wouldn't work.......... he'd got some connections crossed over during the swap-out, true story!!!

 

[Peter Sarf]

You're obviously not aware that software engineers like to reinvent the wheel at every available opportunity, (including updates to existing software).

No I'm not joking (and I've got 40+ years experience of working with the so and so's).

One had bloke convince himself that a PLC he had replaced (due to a hardware fault), needed the software 'tweaking' as it wouldn't work.......... he'd got some connections crossed over during the swap-out, true story!!!

I can endorse that. Often people would code a fix with no regard to its subsequent side effects.

The number of times I would be given a bug to fix and with a little more effort I could see how one bug fix had caused the next bug.

Some bug fixes where just undoing what department A wanted and department B did not like. Honestly it would go back and forth over years and you could see it in the backups of the code. So you only have to have conflicting ideas of what the train control software should do and you will never get to a result.

Obviously a good bit of business analysis would be expected to weed that out before a programmer got involved but hey ho.

 

[Djgr]

Anybody know why the West Kirby timetable has changed, it’s the first I’ve noticed. I’m presuming it’s the whole Wirral line not just West Kirby.

Changed in what way?

 

[jamesst]

Changed in what way?

Temporary speed restriction on both lines at Birkenhead North due to subsidence meaning trains depart west kirby 2mins earlier than before and New Brightons 1min early. Expected to be in place well into next year.

 

[507016]

I know they haven’t been in service for a long time yet, but do the 777s have gearboxes? Or are the motors axle mounted? I’ve noticed some 777s have a little hum that lasts a couple seconds at high speeds. Is this motor resonance?

 

[40029 Saxonia]

I can confirm that 777035 was parked up against the back wall last week.

I can confirm that 777035 is right at the back. On exiting Bank Hall station cross over the road. There is a metal cable box against a high brick wall. If you stand on this box and look over the wall 777035 is clearly visible on the left side. Visited today (14th Dec) and visible from here were 777035/001/010/015. Binoculars not needed. 777008 visible from Kirkdale trains. I assume 777004 is still on Kirkdale but couldn't positively identify it. 777053 may have been there but my binoculars not good enough to be positive!