Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

[Sam 76]

I wonder what it is that makes them struggle with those initial services first thing

Kirkby line:

• 0613 Kirkby - Liverpool is cancelled
• 0635 Liverpool Central - Kirkby is cancelled

 

[MattRat]

Brief personal review of 777s now that I've finally been on them:
- Tube vibes. Not terrible, just different, and I understand the benefits in terms of safety.
- Seats firm, but could be worn in, but also a smidge narrow and leg room in airline could be better. Not the worst, but good thing it's shorter journeys.
- Light and airy, with huge feeling windows. Shame about some of the window alignment. Cameras really don't do it justice, making it seem overly bright when it isn't.
- Ride composed, definitely better than the old stock, and makes up for the firm seats. Also can finally have a conversation in the tunnels, yay.
- Electronics, great when they work (which they did), but more to go wrong, explaining most of the teething troubles.

Overall, a bit anti climatic. Some good, some bad, but no wow factor from Stadler like there should be. The word I'd use is probably adequate, but nothing more. 6 out of 10 would be my best guess.

 

[8A Rail]

Certainly 777009, 777013 and 049 were noted on the Kirkby service today. Manage to ride on 013 (my first) then 049 later between Moorfields and Kirkdale (& rtn), found them quiet and smooth. Getting on and off the train I found spooky due to level boarding but I'm sure I will get use to it! I only sat down the once though and did find the seat a little hard but it was OK for the length of journey but will reserve judgement until I have longer ride when ever that may be.

Learnt a lot today about the Class 777's on a visit to Kirkdale, just say most impressive regarding the Units as well as the Sadler on site maintenance facilities. I think Merseyrail & MerseyTravel will do alright with them once they have bedded in and more staff get familiar with them.

(For Units on site 777001 (with Small 'Eurovision' markings), 777006, 777014, 777015, 777018, 777140, and 777142, as well as 507009, 507017 and 508114. Inside the maintenance shed was 777002 and 777008).

 

[Sam 76]

I feel like it’s worth noting that although there are still problems occurring with the new units they seem to be finding there feet a little in terms of not breaking every couple of hours

 

[Skie]

I noticed 777049 had part of the M lighting arrangement out of action on its Kirby end tonight.

Ended up at Sandhills to change and noticed they do take a bloody long time to open the doors and dispatch. Makes it really obvious when two trains arrive simultaneously and the pep unit is on its way long before the 777 has got its doors closed.

 

[Rick1984]

I like the look of the use of wood vinyl on the interior

 

[Bikeman78]

Correct, Merseytravel have suspended overhauls on the Class 508's, Class 508 units are now being withdrawn as and when milage runs out.
507's will only be withdrawn if they become seriously damaged, as was the case with 507019.

Connex tried that. It didn't end well. They had to use the Hastings DEMU for several weeks while some CEPs were rushed through overhaul.

 

[Sam 76]

Connex tried that. It didn't end well. They had to use the Hastings DEMU for several weeks while some CEPs were rushed through overhaul.

That’s true I’ve read about that. Hopefully though with the 777s seemingly getting gradually better then nothing like that will happen

 

[Wezz]

Connex tried that. It didn't end well. They had to use the Hastings DEMU for several weeks while some CEPs were rushed through overhaul.

I'm sure you lot won't mind if we run some Rail Replacement Busses for a while, ya'll love RRB's

 

[MattRat]

I'm sure you lot won't mind if we run some Rail Replacement Busses for a while, ya'll love RRB's

Or they could just cut service to every 30 minutes if it gets that bad. They'd still have enough units for that.

 

[Kite159]

Or they could just cut service to every 30 minutes if it gets that bad. They'd still have enough units for that.

Or even cut back the Ellesmere Port services to be a Hooton - Ellesmere Port shuttle to free up 2 units.

 

[karlbbb]

Latest Merseyrail tweet suggesting a small number of services will now begin on the Ormskirk line from Monday 10th April.


Merseyrail article

From Monday 10 April, passengers on the Ormskirk Line will notice the new class 777 trains begin operating in passenger service. As was the case on the Kirkby line the number of trains in passenger service will grow as the phased roll out progresses over the next few weeks.

Since the introduction of the Class 777s on the Kirkby line in January, passengers have been fulsome in their praise of the new trains. Many have been hugely impressed with the improved design, layout and high-tech features such as air conditioning, wifi and electric charging points.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Since the introduction of the Class 777s on the Kirkby line in January, passengers have been fulsome in their praise of the new trains. Many have been hugely impressed with the improved design, layout and high-tech features such as air conditioning, wifi and electric charging points.

How utterly unbelievably arrogant. You just don't say things like that.

I certainly haven't been "fulsome in praise" about the things!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Apr 2023 ==

(I've just given them an utter slating on their survey on that page )

 

[Vinnym]

How utterly unbelievably arrogant. You just don't say things like that.

I certainly haven't been "fulsome in praise" about the things!

Don’t know why you seem to want to comment negatively regularly on the new trains, it’s not as if you will be using them much. I haven’t been on one yet but with their introduction on the Ormskirk service I will probably be using one in the near future. At the end of the day most passengers will be using them for short journeys unless you travel all the way to Southport or Chester, so if the seats are a little hard or window alignment is not up to enthusiasts expectations, I doubt if Joe Public will really notice.
All that the travelling public on Merseyrail want is a reliable service and hopefully when the teething problems are ironed out that’s what we will get.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Don’t know why you seem to want to comment negatively regularly on the new trains, it’s not as if you will be using them much. I haven’t been on one yet but with their introduction on the Ormskirk service I will probably be using one in the near future. At the end of the day most passengers will be using them for short journeys unless you travel all the way to Southport or Chester, so if the seats are a little hard or window alignment is not up to enthusiasts expectations, I doubt if Joe Public will really notice.

"It doesn't matter if something's a bit rubbish, because you won't be using it for very long" is hardly an accolade.

Give me a Class 700 any day, and that's saying something!

 

[Vinnym]

"It doesn't matter if something's a bit rubbish, because you won't be using it for very long" is hardly an accolade.

Give me a Class 700 any day, and that's saying something!

If you read my post I never used the word rubbish, think you need to take a chill pill and let Merseyrail users make up their own mind.

 

[prod_pep]

How utterly unbelievably arrogant. You just don't say things like that.

Frankly, an embarrassing piece of PR guff which comes across as desperate for approbation but arrogantly dismissive of criticism, of which there is plenty. You only need to look at Twitter to see the reception is far from universally positive.

Evidently I must have imagined the three separate passengers on my first journey who were 'fulsome' in their dislike for the new trains, and the woman on the second who said she preferred the old ones. Or perhaps these were the only four dissatisfied passengers? I hardly think so!

 

[Sam 76]

I think so often we get caught up on here on arguing if they are good or not. When everyone has their own opinions that’s going to be hard to change. I for one really like them but that’s not to say others won’t really dislike them that’s the joys of opinion

 

[D821]

The Liverpool Echo is claiming they'll be used for the Grand National. I guess they mean during the festival rather than on the Saturday. I take it they're no closer on multiple working?

New Merseyrail trains to run in time for Grand National Festival

The next stage of the roll-out of the new trains will get underway next week

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

The next stage of the roll-out of the new trains will begin on the Ormskirk line of the network in time for the showpiece racing event. Following the fleet’s launch on the Kirkby line, passengers will start to see the new trains in passenger service on the Ormskirk line from next Monday (April 10).


For the Grand National Festival, it is planned that some services heading to and from Aintree will be operated by the new trains before their wider introduction on the line over the coming weeks.

 

[Wezz]

The Liverpool Echo is claiming they'll be used for the Grand National. I guess they mean during the festival rather than on the Saturday. I take it they're no closer on multiple working?

New Merseyrail trains to run in time for Grand National Festival

The next stage of the roll-out of the new trains will get underway next week

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

Ormskirk Line introduction 10/04/23

 

[Sam 76]

Ormskirk Line introduction 10/04/23

Do you know if the units currently doing the Kirkby ones will be on there and then any ones that haven’t yet taken passengers phase in on the Kirkby line ?

 

[karlbbb]

The Liverpool Echo is claiming they'll be used for the Grand National. I guess they mean during the festival rather than on the Saturday. I take it they're no closer on multiple working?

New Merseyrail trains to run in time for Grand National Festival

The next stage of the roll-out of the new trains will get underway next week

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

ME are brave if they put the 777 on the Grand National services. I can't imagine it'll be anything but 507/508s running on the special timetable on Thu 13 - Sat 15th, especially on the 7.5 min shuttle service.

 

[Bletchleyite]

ME are brave if they put the 777 on the Grand National services. I can't imagine it'll be anything but 507/508s running on the special timetable on Thu 13 - Sat 15th, especially on the 7.5 min shuttle service.

It seems a bad idea. Partly because if it sits down you've got a massive problem on your hands, partly because you want 6.50x on every train for the capacity.

 

[Crossforth]

As much as I like the original units from a nostalgic point of view, Merseyrail are clearly happy with the reliability of the 777 units to want to start bringing them into service on the Ormskirk line and especially for the Grand National.

I'm looking forward to them in the long run.

777009, 777018 and 777049 are in service on the Kirkby line today.

 

[Sam 76]

As much as I like the original units from a nostalgic point of view, Merseyrail are clearly happy with the reliability of the 777 units to want to start bringing them into service on the Ormskirk line and especially for the Grand National.

I'm looking forward to them in the long run.

777009, 777018 and 777049 are in service on the Kirkby line today.

It’s a good sign for sure of their improving reliability. Will be interesting to see how they get on with the longer routes

 

[Wezz]

Do you know if the units currently doing the Kirkby ones will be on there and then any ones that haven’t yet taken passengers phase in on the Kirkby line ?

Not sure, units will likely be interchanged up until Headbolt Lane opens, then the Kirkby line will be serviced by 777/1's exclusively.

 

[Sam 76]

Not sure, units will likely be interchanged up until Headbolt Lane opens, then the Kirkby line will be serviced by 777/1's exclusively.

Makes sense. Another thought as well how is the Ormskirk line going to complete if 8 cars can’t be run. Old sets for rush hour or 4 cars ?

 

[Wezz]

Makes sense. Another thought as well how is the Ormskirk line going to complete if 8 cars can’t be run. Old sets for rush hour or 4 cars ?

I would imagine old sets will be used for peak services until the software issue with 8 cars is fixed.

 

[OutdoorM]

I would imagine old sets will be used for peak services until the software issue with 8 cars is fixed.

Can 8 cars be created if they are from the same factory? Or is linking a complete no no?

 

[MattRat]

The Liverpool Echo is claiming they'll be used for the Grand National. I guess they mean during the festival rather than on the Saturday. I take it they're no closer on multiple working?

Makes sense. Another thought as well how is the Ormskirk line going to complete if 8 cars can’t be run. Old sets for rush hour or 4 cars ?

I fully expect 4 cars even during the national and rush hour. Cue pandemonium.