Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

[Techniquest]

Did I say it never happens? I said passengers shouldn't expect it and they shouldn't.

Quite, but it is often better these days to expect disruption and not rely on a specific train running! Always best to have multiple backup plans, leave earlier than strictly necessary etc, if it's an important journey!

 

[Liverpool 507]

Testing covers a vast number of components and equipment, some things won't come up until regular passenger service commences and they're being used constantly.


Teething problems, everyone should expect this.

The doors will cause some issues due to the sensitive edge and sliding step

It happens.

These things happen - can imagine similar teething issues were found with the 507s/8s when they were first introduced.

Absolutely. Some groans from passengers on the platform but as a railway employee with another TOC with a recently introduced new fleet, these things happen but do soon settle down. It looks like 009 is still about as it is allocated in TRUST.

 

[Bertie the bus]

Is that supposed to be justification? The introduction of new stock by some TOCs has been absolutely abysmally handled so does that mean that passengers should just expect problems when new trains enter service?

I fully expect the 777 introduction to be far smoother than many other stock because Merseyrail have at least tested them. Instead of the fairly standard practice of running trains from one place to another and back a few times non-stop and saying that’ll do Merseyrail have replicated real life passenger service in their fault free running by stopping at each station and opening and closing the doors but just saying – teething troubles what do you expect? isn’t how passengers should be treated.

 

[43066]

Is that supposed to be justification? The introduction of new stock by some TOCs has been absolutely abysmally handled so does that mean that passengers should just expect problems when new trains enter service?

I fully expect the 777 introduction to be far smoother than many other stock because Merseyrail have at least tested them. Instead of the fairly standard practice of running trains from one place to another and back a few times non-stop and saying that’ll do Merseyrail have replicated real life passenger service in their fault free running by stopping at each station and opening and closing the doors but just saying – teething troubles what do you expect? isn’t how passengers should be treated.

It must be frustrating to go through life unwilling to accept that sometimes things go wrong.

 

[Bow Fell]

Is that supposed to be justification? The introduction of new stock by some TOCs has been absolutely abysmally handled so does that mean that passengers should just expect problems when new trains enter service?

I fully expect the 777 introduction to be far smoother than many other stock because Merseyrail have at least tested them. Instead of the fairly standard practice of running trains from one place to another and back a few times non-stop and saying that’ll do Merseyrail have replicated real life passenger service in their fault free running by stopping at each station and opening and closing the doors but just saying – teething troubles what do you expect? isn’t how passengers should be treated.

So a train can never have a fault on it?

Looks like it was quickly rectified and sent back out in service, all experience for traincrew onboard who may have never experienced such a fault before?

It’s the 4th day of passenger operation and one fault so far that’s caused 2 full and 2 part cancellations, not ideal but that’s how it goes.

 

[507020]

Has anybody tested the power charging points and wifi system?
And will the wifi work in the tunnels?

I have tested both the 240V and USB sockets, over a year ago now and can confirm that both passed my tests, but can’t remember exactly what they were! It did involve verification of DC voltage levels and earthing.

Do they have exterior PA speakers?

If you listen in this video shortly after the doors start closing:

you can hear the same voice used for the on-board announcements say "Please stand back from the platform edge". It's hard to tell though, it might just be the station PA.

“Please stand back from the platform edge” in the voice of Julie Berry was quite commonly heard on the exterior of the train during testing and mileage accumulation runs in 2021, but I can’t say I heard it at all on Monday, but that was because I was inside the train. When I eventually got off at Kirkdale, so did Steve Rotheram and his cameraman to film him watching it depart.

 

[The_Train]

So did we see another 777 in service today after 009's failure or did a trusty PEP come out to help out?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

So did we see another 777 in service today after 009's failure or did a trusty PEP come out to help out?

It looks like 009 is still about as it is allocated in TRUST.

Sounds like 009 had its issue and it returned to service, but I can't provide any proof.

 

[MDB1images]

Sounds like 009 had its issue and it returned to service, but I can't provide any proof.

Looks like it worked 2K17 10:57 SDL-KIR, was cancelled from Liverpool Central to Sandhills.

 

[Skie]

Where are the external speakers located please.

On the outside

They’re the black “gromits” on the doors. Pretty obvious as they have speaker grilles.

 

[Liverpool 507]

On the outside

They’re the black “gromits” on the doors. Pretty obvious as they have speaker grilles.

They’re roof mounted plastic bullhorn speakers. I have a photo somewhere.

 

[Skie]

They’re roof mounted plastic bullhorn speakers. I have a photo somewhere.

Ah, the gromits must just be the hustle alarms

 

[Vespa]

What's the state of play with 777 so far ?

It seems there's some teething troubles and cancellations

Any possibility of weekend runnings, I would love to have a ride tomorrow.

 

[M28361M]

Sounds like 009 had its issue and it returned to service, but I can't provide any proof.

009 came back into service, I rode it on the 1305 from Liverpool Central.

Any possibility of weekend runnings, I would love to have a ride tomorrow.

Merseyrail's Twitter people have said it won't be running this weekend. There is engineering work on Sunday as well, so no trains between Sandhills and Liverpool Central. Whether that will have factored into the decision, I don't know.

 

[Vespa]

Merseyrail's Twitter people have said it won't be running this weekend. There is engineering work on Sunday as well, so no trains between Sandhills and Liverpool Central. Whether that will have factored into the decision, I don't know

Thanks for the update, guess my best bet is to try and catch it next week, after work hopefully.

Thanks.

 

[BUTRailcar]

the livery leaves a lot to be desired. Why cant modern units have a bit more style. AEC knew how to do it

 

[Parjon]

The proper silver and yellow livery looked great on the 507/8s. Then Metrolink blatantly ripped it off. Merseyrail then went for the garish full flourescent yellow full dull grey plastic covering, designed by a Manchester company, now seen on them.

The 777s need some decent sized Ms sticking on the doors and then I guess the design can be lived with. I would prefer the correct yellow to be used though. It's still not the right one.

 

[BUTRailcar]

yes a splash of colour would lift them wonders

 

[Bletchleyite]

The proper silver and yellow livery looked great on the 507/8s. Then Metrolink blatantly ripped it off. instead of defending the design copyright

Impersonation is the sincerest form of flattery. No, money should not have been wasted on litigation that could be spent on operating trains/trams.

merseyrail went for the garish full flourescent yellow full dull grey plastic covering, designed by a Manchester company, now seen on them.

I quite like that (and the quirk that they're grey on one side, yellow on the other).

The 777s need some decent sized Ms sticking on the doors and then I guess the design can be lived with. I would prefer the correct yellow to be used though. It's still not the right one.

It does seem a bit light. The Ms are being stuck at the vehicle ends.

yes a splash of colour would lift them wonders

They're bright yellow!

The inside is a bit bland, though, I think the seat fabric could be improved and vinyls of Merseyside scenery could be added to the boring cab ends.

 

[Parjon]

It would actually look better if the grey bits were black. A nice big white M could then sit the middle.

 

[8A Rail]

Having seen numerous images and various angles of the Class 777's in the last few days, I have concluded appearance wise they are not photogenic to record. I do not think it is helped by the black fronts either as I think it needs a bit of colour to enhance their appearance. The remainder of the livery being a combination yellow, grey and black although they are the MR house colours, it is just at best, bland. May be they need some graphics to lift the appearance. Bottom line, rather than looking like a train, it is as most people agree, an enhanced tram to operate on heavy rail. In the meantime, I will continue to photograph the Class 507 / 508's while able too and leave the Class 777's in the meantime.

 

[Liverpool 507]

Impersonation is the sincerest form of flattery. No, money should not have been wasted on litigation that could be spent on operating trains/trams.



I quite like that (and the quirk that they're grey on one side, yellow on the other).



It does seem a bit light. The Ms are being stuck at the vehicle ends.



They're bright yellow!

The inside is a bit bland, though, I think the seat fabric could be improved and vinyls of Merseyside scenery could be added to the boring cab ends.

Ms are being applied in between vehicles at the end of each carriage on the side, featuring METRO and the multicoloured LCR spots.

 

[M28361M]

Update posted on Merseyrail's website this afternoon:-

Starting from Monday 30 January, the new trains will be in service on the Kirkby line from 06:13 in the morning and will continue until 19:35 in the early evening.

Passengers need to be aware that this means there will be cancellations of some services on Monday-Saturday for the foreseeable future. There will be three trains per hour running from 07:00, until the normal half-hourly evening schedule which runs from 19:13 to the end of service.

The Class 777s will be in service from Monday to Saturday but will not yet be used on Sundays.

Passengers should plan their journeys by using the journey planner or by using the full timetable of trains from Kirkby to Liverpool Central, and from Liverpool Central to Kirkby, below.

 

[Vespa]

Update posted on Merseyrail's website this afternoon:-

Interesting development.

Regarding grey seats, the colour is probably picked to hide dirt from regular use.

 

[MattRat]

They're bright yellow!

The inside is a bit bland, though, I think the seat fabric could be improved and vinyls of Merseyside scenery could be added to the boring cab ends.

I think they should have taken inspiration from Crossrail. It's also got a limited colour palette, but the patterns are much more lively, IMO, and the light grey inside helps it feel less clinical.

 

[AlexNL]

And once again that just goes to show how much tastes vary. To me the 777s look absolutely stunning, both on pictures and in the flesh. While 507/508s, or any PEP-derived train for that matter, do absolutely nothing for me.

 

[Parjon]

Bottom line, rather than looking like a train, it is as most people agree, an enhanced tram to operate on heavy rail.

By"most people" don't you mean yourself and one other?

It's a metro train.

And once again that just goes to show how much tastes vary. To me the 777s look absolutely stunning, both on pictures and in the flesh.

I think the livery could be beefed up, but otherwise I agree

 

[childwallblues]

Having seen numerous images and various angles of the Class 777's in the last few days, I have concluded appearance wise they are not photogenic to record. I do not think it is helped by the black fronts either as I think it needs a bit of colour to enhance their appearance. The remainder of the livery being a combination yellow, grey and black although they are the MR house colours, it is just at best, bland. May be they need some graphics to lift the appearance. Bottom line, rather than looking like a train, it is as most people agree, an enhanced tram to operate on heavy rail. In the meantime, I will continue to photograph the Class 507 / 508's while able too and leave the Class 777's in the meantime.

Doug they are trains to carry passengers not models for photography.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Doug they are trains to carry passengers not models for photography.

Where's the 'like' button?

 

[irish_rail]

Doug they are trains to carry passengers not models for photography.

But, image is all important, a lot of money and effort goes into design of everything these days. And I have to say I think they are hideous. Look like trams. Fine if travelling from Central to Aigburth, but would I want to travel on a Tram from Chester into Liverpool? Black fronts really are awful, and come with separate issues of dazzling oncoming drivers / pedestrians at foot crossings when the sun is in the right position the glare will cause problems (it does on crossrail 345s, which, have dazzled me causing me to see stars.). Yellow fronts provide a smart uniform appearance, I just don't get this black front love in myself, though I concede, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!