Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

[D821]

I can understand financial secrecy around bids and a tender process, but once it's been signed what is gained from keeping it silent?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I can understand financial secrecy around bids and a tender process, but once it's been signed what is gained from keeping it silent?

They may be discussing renegotiating the contract's financials based on delayed introduction to service.

 

[Skie]

Any agreement with the RMT, other than DOO, will have a financial implication, and before anyone from the employer side can sign the agreement that extra expenditure will need the go-ahead from this group of elected people. You could damage relations with a union by having a date enter the public domain if you’re still negotiating with them or before they have a chance to ballot members. And they can’t ballot members until they know the agreement has the backing of this group.

So it makes sense to keep it restricted, at least until the extra spend is approved and both sides put pen to paper.

If this meeting is about these things, then you can expect lots of noise from the RMT not long afterwards and then a public announcement about a date for the first services. ASLEF hopefully won’t hold things up, but that depends on what is agreed.

 

[D821]

That makes sense, thanks for your responses.

 

[507020]

Any agreement with the RMT, other than DOO, will have a financial implication, and before anyone from the employer side can sign the agreement that extra expenditure will need the go-ahead from this group of elected people. You could damage relations with a union by having a date enter the public domain if you’re still negotiating with them or before they have a chance to ballot members. And they can’t ballot members until they know the agreement has the backing of this group.

So it makes sense to keep it restricted, at least until the extra spend is approved and both sides put pen to paper.

If this meeting is about these things, then you can expect lots of noise from the RMT not long afterwards and then a public announcement about a date for the first services. ASLEF hopefully won’t hold things up, but that depends on what is agreed.

If the redaction is somehow able to speed up their entry into service, then that is of course a good thing, but I would prefer absolute transparency, especially with regards to publicly owned assets. (Of course they are not publicly owned while they remain the property of Stadler)

 

[Ryans]

It will be Kirkby - Rainford. Kirkby - Headbolt Lane route knowledge will then be allowed to lapse.

One unit is locked out from Kirkby - Wigan and unlocked at Wigan Wallgate. It’s a complete waste of Diesel not to split/join them instead.

Recently boarded at Pemberton on a couple of occasions on Kirkby - Wigan/Blackburn and all 4 cars were available for boarding

 

[507020]

Recently boarded at Pemberton on a couple of occasions on Kirkby - Wigan/Blackburn and all 4 cars were available for boarding

Did you notice where they were locked/unlocked?

 

[Pacef8]

Its not so much a secret meeting as a press statement is going out on radio city at the moment about it.

 

[D821]

Has anyone heard anything about to outcome of the meeting yet?

 

[TheSel]

So as I suspected. This is not off topic. The trains from Wigan will likely never return to Kirkby after that date, with the Kirkby - Headbolt Lane section taken over by the 777s which are the subject of this thread, unless of course they are re-extended to Liverpool, in which case the whole line will be run by 777s.

We are wandering slightly off topic, however trains from Wigan will be terminating at Rainford from Monday 18th July.

I note the recently published the Notwork Rail Timetable for the route shows the rail service resuming between Rainford and Kirkby with effect from 30 August.

 

[507020]

I note the recently published the Notwork Rail Timetable for the route shows the rail service resuming between Rainford and Kirkby with effect from 30 August.

If it is to return again temporarily, then it must be truncated again before the station can be finished.

 

[D821]

It's encouraging there sounds like there is progress. It would be nice to use the new units, the 507 I'm on now is riding like a jalopy. I don't think I've been on one that's so bouncy and uncomfortable, before.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Sounds distinctly like 10 bells, which is absolutely ludicrous. Just fit the damn things with panels and be done with it!

It isn't. It is more like the guard acting as a DOO dispatcher. The detail is in the link above.

 

[Mag_seven]

A reminder that this is a traction and rolling stock section thread to discuss the Merseyrail Class 777.

Can we avoid taking about other things especially DOO as we know how toxic it can get.

thanks

 

[Skie]

8 car testing has been seen overnight on the Ormskirk line.

 

[DJH1971]

Did anything come out of the meeting nearly 2 weeks ago regarding an introduction to service date?

 

[Skie]

Did anything come out of the meeting nearly 2 weeks ago regarding an introduction to service date?

Yes. RMT have published the final offer and asked members for their opinion. See this thread which was split off into its own discussion.

 

[Sam 76]

It's encouraging there sounds like there is progress. It would be nice to use the new units, the 507 I'm on now is riding like a jalopy. I don't think I've been on one that's so bouncy and uncomfortable, before.

There is one which it’s like the suspension hits the tracks Somedays I love it others hate it. But one things for sure I always know it’s the one it has so much character

 

[D821]

There is one which it’s like the suspension hits the tracks Somedays I love it others hate it. But one things for sure I always know it’s the one it has so much character

I meant to take a note of the number but forgot. It was a really uncomfortable ride, but it certainly stuck in my memory!

 

[karlbbb]

I think there's a couple like that now. Very noticeable coming out of Moorfields to Sandhills on a busy home-time train. You can feel the suspension bottoming out quite harshly!

 

[BR 45111]

Let’s hope the 777’s have got proper air conditioning, I was on a number of 507’s in yesterday’s warm weather but there was no detriment to my day as all the windows were open.
On the way home a number of Norwich - Liverpool’s were cancelled due to a signalling failure at Chesterfield, as a consequence I found myself on a all stations stopper 2 car Class 150 from Piccadilly to Sheffield which was rammed , people standing in the isles. The journey was just about made bearable by the fact that all the windows were open.

Regards
Marcus

 

[Skie]

Let’s hope the 777’s have got proper air conditioning

They do! Plus the entire module on the roof can be easily lifted out and replaced at Kirkdale, so any failures can be rectified quickly.

 

[Vespa]

Do the air conditioning come on automatically or the driver have to switch it on manually, in which case lets hope he remembers !



*I was on a bus tour during transport event many years ago on a really hot day and the driver didn't switch on the fan, somebody had to go up and tell him to turn the bloody thing on before somebody has a heatstroke.

 

[karlbbb]

Do the air conditioning come on automatically or the driver have to switch it on manually, in which case lets hope he remembers !



*I was on a bus tour during transport event many years ago on a really hot day and the driver didn't switch on the fan, somebody had to go up and tell him to turn the bloody thing on before somebody has a heatstroke.

I would be extremely surprised if the driver/guard get to choose the temperature or have to set it manually. It'll likely be just a setpoint of 21C (or around there) on the climate control system and it'll choose heat or cooling as needed. This will also be good in winter compared to when the guards/drivers forget to turn on the heating!

 

[Skie]

I would be extremely surprised if the driver/guard get to choose the temperature or have to set it manually. It'll likely be just a setpoint of 21C (or around there) on the climate control system and it'll choose heat or cooling as needed. This will also be good in winter compared to when the guards/drivers forget to turn on the heating!

Honestly the covid restrictions of leaving the heating off (or just enough to unfreeze the unit then shut off) has been rather more pleasant than the usual winter inferno. Passengers boarding trains in winter are dressed for winter temperatures, not the 30 degree heat the 507/508s can get to in winter.

The 777s will at least solve that by being reasonably warm in winter, rather than unbearable.

 

[karlbbb]

I think I'm mostly looking forward to the lack of windows to stop the flange squeal being so ear-piercingly loud as you go through the tunnels into Moorfields/Central.

 

[Mordac]

Don't worry, the RMT members voted against the operating proposal, so you'll get to enjoy the warmth of the 50x units for a while at least.

Can we stick a panto on the 777 and send them down to Birmingham? If the Scousers like their 40 year old trains so much they can keep them for another 40.

 

[karlbbb]

Don't worry, the RMT members voted against the operating proposal, so you'll get to enjoy the warmth of the 50x units for a while at least.

Can we stick a panto on the 777 and send them down to Birmingham? If the Scousers like their 40 year old trains so much they can keep them for another 40.

Hey, some of us want these new trains to be already in service!

 

[MattRat]

I think I'm mostly looking forward to the lack of windows to stop the flange squeal being so ear-piercingly loud as you go through the tunnels into Moorfields/Central.

The shorter carriages will also help with that...

 

[Bertie the bus]

Don't worry, the RMT members voted against the operating proposal, so you'll get to enjoy the warmth of the 50x units for a while at least.

Can we stick a panto on the 777 and send them down to Birmingham? If the Scousers like their 40 year old trains so much they can keep them for another 40.

2 1/2 years since the first unit arrived on Merseyside and probably at least another 2 years before they even agree how they will operate. Then everybody needs training so even being optimistic 2025 now looks like a potential introduction date.