Merseyrail: New Brighton Line

[Spandau]

Having only recently returned to a 15-minute frequency on most routes, Merseyrail have from today reduced New Brighton services to half hourly.

They blame “a number of technical issues”. Anyone got any idea what these are in addition to a shortage of units?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I suspect they're running out of serviceable 50x without doing expensive overhauls.

 

[prod_pep]

There is also a Chester circuit missing for the rest of the day.

It is units needing repair that are the problem, not overhaul.

 

[jamesst]

A lot of units are awaiting repair at the moment and an issue with some components wearing out faster than they should is under investigation.
The New Brightons are the easiest to knock out a couple of diagrams without redrawing the timetable.

 

[Statto]

The 507 & 508s aren't going to have a major overhaul given there being phased out for the new 777s soon, it'll be repair & make do, but yep, New Brighton & Kirkby for that matter is easy to knock a couple of diagrams off without affecting anything else elsewhere

 

[507020]

The 507 & 508s aren't going to have a major overhaul given there being phased out for the new 777s soon, it'll be repair & make do, but yep, New Brighton & Kirkby for that matter is easy to knock a couple of diagrams off without affecting anything else elsewhere

The Kirkbys are probably too busy for that though. They tend to be some of the busiest leaving Liverpool Central. As soon as the first few 777s enter service, they will immediately relieve pressure on the 1970s 507/508 fleet, so Merseytravel really need to come up with a serious proposal for the unions…

 

[prod_pep]

The Kirkbys are probably too busy for that though. They tend to be some of the busiest leaving Liverpool Central.

Yes, the Kirkby trains are clearly busier than New Brighton in the peaks.

Also, dropping New Brighton to half-hourly neatly frees two units while dropping Kirkby would only free one and require timetable changes.

 

[dvfmlfc]

Saw this on the Merseyrail facebook page tonight. I am not very technically-minded, but the company claim there are issues with the wheel bearings on units. From 6th June, the service between Central and Kirkby is off all day until 1935 when trains will run until finish. There has been no date given when things will return to normal, otherwise a limited replacement bus service will operate between Moorfields and Kirkby, calling at Rice Lane and Fazakerley.

It's particularly frustrating when a brand new fleet of trains are parked in the depot, whilst Merseyrail and the unions attempt to thrash out an agreement as to the operation of the 777s.

 

[507020]

Saw this on the Merseyrail facebook page tonight. I am not very technically-minded, but the company claim there are issues with the wheel bearings on units. From 6th June, the service between Central and Kirkby is off all day until 1935 when trains will run until finish. There has been no date given when things will return to normal, otherwise a limited replacement bus service will operate between Moorfields and Kirkby, calling at Rice Lane and Fazakerley.

It's particularly frustrating when a brand new fleet of trains are parked in the depot, whilst Merseyrail and the unions attempt to thrash out an agreement as to the operation of the 777s.

I doubt any company would lie about the nature of an issue, so I believe the issues will be with wheel bearings and if this is the case then it is very sensible to withdraw the affected units for the sake of those not familiar with the perils of a hot axle box (see Summit tunnel fire 1984) independent of any industrial relations issues regarding the already completed and partially delivered class 777 fleet, but hopefully the wake up call that operating an intensive service with a near 45 year old fleet can result in cliff edge reliability issues such as this will add a new level of urgency to negotiations with the RMT and ASLEF.