Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

[LeonO]

049 in service tonight

 

[D821]

The issue is in regards to the OTDR/OTMR not working correctly on the 777s.

What is OTDR/OTMR, please?

 

[mcnw35282]

On train data recorder and on train monitoring recorder

 

[8A Rail]

What is OTDR/OTMR, please?

On Train Date Recorder / On Train Monitoring Recorder.

 

[Wezz]

777049 is back in service tonight, with 3 units booked to run Kirkby services tomorrow.

 

[AMD]

Last to be introduced on the network. Southport needs infrastructure mods to accept them in multiple.

The work has physically started at Southport.
For info, platforms 2 & 3 are being extended into the concourse towards the back of M&S, the third photo shows where the back corner of the M to Go shop has been cut out as the gateline is being moved and turned through 90 degrees, so will cut into this area.

 

[ExRes]

Some interesting schedules currently in for this week

Wednesday 0700 0Z76 Kings Norton OTPD to Willesden Up & Down Relief and 1232 6Q77 to Walton Old Jct MSC Sidings

Thursday 2309 6Q78 to Kirkdale CS

Friday 0500 6Z79 to Walton Old Jct MSC Sidings, 0807 6Z80 to DB Cargo Fan A & B Sidings and 1501 0Z81 to Kings Norton OTPD

 

[Sam 76]

More 777 problems again today barely 4 hours after coming back full time
And another one at 1:30

 

[DJH1971]

More 777 problems again today barely 4 hours after coming back full time

What has happened now?

 

[LPJOHN]

The 10:43 Kirkby to Liverpool Central is 777-049.

 

[karlbbb]

What has happened now?

At least one 777 taken out of service this morning. The 1050 Central-Kirkby has just exited Leeds St tunnels as a 507/508 (I can see the trains pass but too far away to make out unit numbers).

 

[Sam 76]

What has happened now?

Not too sure but there was a cancellation at 9:30 ish from Kirkby and the next service starting at Sandhills so presuming the unit swap took place

 

[Wezz]

At least one 777 taken out of service this morning. The 1050 Central-Kirkby has just exited Leeds St tunnels as a 507/508 (I can see the trains pass but too far away to make out unit numbers).

507001

 

[prod_pep]

Shambolic. My train from Southport had a long wait outside Sandhills due to the faulty 777 but mercifully didn't skip-stop to Hunts Cross. I should have had a bet on problems this morning as soon as it was announced 777s were back.

 

[Wezz]

Shambolic. My train from Southport had a long wait outside Sandhills due to the faulty 777 but mercifully didn't skip-stop to Hunts Cross. I should have had a bet on problems this morning as soon as it was announced 777s were back.

As I've said several times, we did warn that there would be issues when they were introduced, but people laughed whenever I warned people about what was to come..

 

[Skie]

As I've said several times, we did warn that there would be issues when they were introduced, but people laughed whenever I warned people about what was to come..

This.

People need to calm down with some of their criticism, nobody (here or in the land of PR) has been claiming it would all be plain sailing, introducing new trains is tricky and with such an intensive service it can cause temporary chaos. In a years time
these past few weeks will all be forgotten.

 

[Pacef8]

If you bought a car on hp and the payments where going out but you didn't have the car for at least another year you would be a bit peeved.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If you bought a car on hp and the payments where going out but you didn't have the car for at least another year you would be a bit peeved.

Happens to plenty of people when they end up with a "lemon" that spends half its time in the garage.

(I comment not on the colour scheme )

 

[prod_pep]

As I've said several times, we did warn that there would be issues when they were introduced

That won't come as news to anybody, although I don't remember seeing any advance warning from Merseyrail that services may be less reliable for a period whilst these new trains are introduced.

Bang goes another one, the unit on the 1313 Kirkby - Liv Central now. This goes beyond inevitable 'teething problems' with new trains. These units are simply not fit for service at present, such is their reliability.

 

[Sam 76]

That won't come as news to anybody, although I don't remember seeing any advance warning from Merseyrail that services may be less reliable for a period whilst these new trains are introduced.

Bang goes another one, the unit on the 1313 Kirkby - Liv Central now. This goes beyond inevitable 'teething problems' with new trains. These units are simply not fit for service at present, such is their reliability.

I don’t think the last statement is particularly representative of the situation. If they weren’t fit for service they wouldn’t be running and the only way to see if the issues are fixed is by putting them back in. As someone else above has said it will be forgotten soon

 

[Skie]

If you bought a car on hp and the payments where going out but you didn't have the car for at least another year you would be a bit peeved.

Apples to oranges. You can’t compare a mass produced vehicle (with consumer protection to boot) to a bespoke train that has a contract behind it that will quite explicitly lay out all of the milestones, availability targets and penalties for missing them.

It’s the same as comparing household finances to government finances, they sound like nice comparisons when having a moan or trying to score points but bear zero relevance to each other.

 

[Killingworth]

This.

People need to calm down with some of their criticism, nobody (here or in the land of PR) has been claiming it would all be plain sailing, introducing new trains is tricky and with such an intensive service it can cause temporary chaos. In a years time
these past few weeks will all be forgotten.

I sadly suspect that at this time in 2024 there'll be another thread with very similar content regarding Class 555!

As for all the fuss about Scotrail's new old HSTs.... Maybe railways are now too expensive and complicated to be operated reliably.

 

[prod_pep]

I don’t think the last statement is particularly representative of the situation. If they weren’t fit for service they wouldn’t be running and the only way to see if the issues are fixed is by putting them back in. As someone else above has said it will be forgotten soon

Two of the three which started the day have failed and been taken off, causing multiple cancellations, again. Sorry, but I wouldn't call that fit for service, or fit for purpose if you prefer. I don't doubt things will improve but this is a particularly rocky start by a new class.

Regarding seeing if the issues are fixed, there are trains missed out on the Southport and Ormskirk lines at the moment to accommodate 777s, presumably training. Use these to at least check if the problems are showing any signs of abating before lumbering them on the public again. Alternatively, gradually re-introduce them on the Kirkby line rather than going straight back to all three and the chaos that ensues.

 

[Parjon]

It isn't good that we are not told why they failed, what is being done about it and progress updates. Much fanfare was made about them being locally owned. So tell us what the issues are!!

 

[DJH1971]

Very soon, Merseyrail might as well rename itself Merseyrailreplacementbus.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Very soon, Merseyrail might as well rename itself Merseyrailreplacementbus.

Not being in the area I haven't seen, but have the Echo had a nice front-page "Miseryfail" story yet? They always used to love that.

 

[Bertie the bus]

As I've said several times, we did warn that there would be issues when they were introduced, but people laughed whenever I warned people about what was to come..

That makes it alright does it? We told you you wouldn’t get a decent service when we introduced the new trains so stop moaning about it.

 

[MattRat]

I sadly suspect that at this time in 2024 there'll be another thread with very similar content regarding Class 555!

I don't think we can say anything for certain, but it is something to watch. Because it'll tell us if it's the trains themselves that are the problem, or if it's Merseyrail itself that is the problem.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I don't think we can say anything for certain, but it is something to watch. Because it'll tell us if it's the trains themselves that are the problem, or if it's Merseyrail itself that is the problem.

Merseyrail will experience some software issues that will be patched onto the 555s.

 

[Meerkat]

Haven't they had these trains to test for years now?