Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

[Neil Polo]

I did yes. Mistype. Thanks for the info.

 

[507016]

Does anyone know yet what the loudest unit may be, also any information on where 777045 is? Thanks

 

[MR-507508]

Does anyone know yet what the loudest unit may be, also any information on where 777045 is? Thanks

According to the records on PTS, it should have worked on the Chester line today and now be stabled at Hooton overnight. This assuming it has not failed and been replaced.

Class 777 Allocations 04/10/2024

Diagrams can be found here – Disclaimer. Allocations 777001 – KI106 777002 – KI141 777003 – Not allocated 777004 – Not allocated 777005 – KI122 777006 – KI…

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[Neil Polo]

Is the reworking of services from Hunts Cross related to platform extensions south of Liverpool?

 

[childwallblues]

Is the reworking of services from Hunts Cross related to platform extensions south of Liverpool?

I believe one of the problems is the starter signal at Hunts Cross which needs to be re-sighted.

 

[Neil Polo]

Is there a time scale for this being done?

 

[Northerngirl]

Just seen 777144 on Ormskirks, have been paying too much attention recently, is this the first one to hunts Cross or have they done it already

 

[507016]

Just seen 777144 on Ormskirks, have been paying too much attention recently, is this the first one to hunts Cross or have they done it already

They’ve done it plenty times before, even last night there was 777150 on orms

 

[Neil Polo]

One has just been taken out of service at Sandhills. Camera fault. However did the 507s function?

 

[childwallblues]

Just seen 777144 on Ormskirks, have been paying too much attention recently, is this the first one to hunts Cross or have they done it already

All 777/1 have been to Hunts Cross in the past 2-3 weeks. It appears to be a daily occurance now.

 

[simonmpoulton]

One has just been taken out of service at Sandhills. Camera fault. However did the 507s function?

The choice was made to have the driver operate the doors - not only did this create the issues with the unions a few years back but it's got the added benefit of if the cameras fail then the train cannot safely operate. Common sense would say you stick with the guard operating the doors without the need for a camera system or at the very least have a process where the guard takes over this task if the camera system fails.

 

[Bertie the bus]

Common sense would say you stick with the guard operating the doors without the need for a camera system or at the very least have a process where the guard takes over this task if the camera system fails.

Common sense and the introduction of the 777s don't belong in the same sentence. Just about every decision made was dubious verging on stupidity.

 

[Neil Polo]

yes it seems daft to have a guard on the train and still make operational cameras a requirement for keeping the train in service.

 

[Northerngirl]

How's a camera even needed to open the doors, is there a danger that someone might be hit by an opening, and the guard still closes them

 

[Prime586]

How's a camera even needed to open the doors, is there a danger that someone might be hit by an opening, and the guard still closes them

I think the issue is that the camera isn't required for the modified mode of operation with the guard dispatch, but the software in the train was written for DOO so if there's a CCTV system fautl it takes the train out of service.

Similarly, the software for the modified door control panels with the RFID readers to allow the guard to dispatch the train doesn't have an option to allow the guard to control opening of the doors - the only functipn it supports is for the RFID token to disparch the train.

The software could be rewrriten to have a fallback mode to allow the guard to open and close the doors and dispatch the train just like a 50x in the event of a CCTV system fault, but it would require development and a lot of testing that Merseytravel would have to pay for (I expect they already had to pay extra for the guard dispatch system), and on the evidence I've seen so far, bespoke software development and especially testing do not appear to be Stadler's strong suits.

 

[Peter0124]

I haven't read any posts, but would anyone be able to fill me in as to whether there are still 507s / 508s in service, or have they all been withdrawn? Thanks

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think the issue is that the camera isn't required for the modified mode of operation with the guard dispatch, but the software in the train was written for DOO so if there's a CCTV system fautl it takes the train out of service.

The camera is required, all the guard is doing is giving the first tip, after that it's essentially DOO.

 

[simonmpoulton]

I haven't read any posts, but would anyone be able to fill me in as to whether there are still 507s / 508s in service, or have they all been withdrawn? Thanks

There are still 6 units available to cover in the event of a lack of available 777's - 507001, 507003, 507007, 507018, 507023 and 507029. None are in regular passenger use

 

[WarrenT]

Given that Chester line is disrupted, Liverpool to Hooton is down to 2tph from 6. Are 8 car 777's being used to handle the passengers as that line can get very busy.

Edit: Nevermind, Chester services are still running from L'pool-Hooton

 

[simonmpoulton]

Given that Chester line is disrupted, Liverpool to Hooton is down to 2tph from 6. Are 8 car 777's being used to handle the passengers as that line can get very busy.

Edit: Nevermind, Chester services are still running from L'pool-Hooton

Pretty sure they still haven't sorted out the SDO so they cannot run as 8 cars on the Chester/Ellesmere port lines - Green Lane being the main problem.

 

[Kite159]

Pretty sure they still haven't sorted out the SDO so they cannot run as 8 cars on the Chester/Ellesmere port lines - Green Lane being the main problem.

If only they went down the sensible route of ordering 120 metre long stock which could hold a lot more passengers than the ~65 metre stock units.

Was on the Chester line on Saturday and one service was uncomfortably overcrowded after Hooton (doesn't help that, that particular service connected with a couple of long distance TfW services at Chester)

 

[Sam 76]

If only they went down the sensible route of ordering 120 metre long stock which could hold a lot more passengers than the ~65 metre stock units.

Was on the Chester line on Saturday and one service was uncomfortably overcrowded after Hooton (doesn't help that, that particular service connected with a couple of long distance TfW services at Chester)

I imagine the argument would be there is nowhere to store them? As you would need near enough the same number of units but nearly double the space ?

 

[simonmpoulton]

I'm sure there are many good reasons why they chose the length of units they eventually went for. I have no doubt however that when they come to replacing the 777's that longer units will be required at this point.

The Chester trains always seem busy for some reason - it's why i've tended to hop on the Ellesmere Ports to Hooton and then swap to the Chester train from Hooton. You'd think if you wanted a station other than Capenhurst, Bache or Chester that you'd avoid a busy Chester service!

 

[RichardAsh1981]

The Chester trains always seem busy for some reason - it's why i've tended to hop on the Ellesmere Ports to Hooton and then swap to the Chester train from Hooton. You'd think if you wanted a station other than Capenhurst, Bache or Chester that you'd avoid a busy Chester service!

I think most customers short of Hooton take the first available train, given it could be 30 minutes before and Ellesmere Port service turns up - the majority of traffic is "metro" with 15 minute or less service intervals except for the Ellesmere Port branch.

 

[Northerngirl]

Am I going mad or was the e port line every 15 until very recently

 

[MR-507508]

Am I going mad or was the e port line every 15 until very recently

There was a 15 min frequency on the Ellesmere Port line on Sunday 8th September due to engineering works between Hooton and Chester. The Chester trains continued to Ellesmere Port. Besides this occurrence, I don't recall a 15 min frequency on the Ellesmere Port line.

 

[cjbirkett]

Am I going mad or was the e port line every 15 until very recently

There used to be a couple of extras in the peak to make it 15 min but general service is every 30 minutes

 

[karlbbb]

If only they went down the sensible route of ordering 120 metre long stock which could hold a lot more passengers than the ~65 metre stock units.

Was on the Chester line on Saturday and one service was uncomfortably overcrowded after Hooton (doesn't help that, that particular service connected with a couple of long distance TfW services at Chester)

You'd double carriage siding and depot space requirements, though. Normal day time traffic outside of the peak times really aren't that busy on Merseyrail - the 4-car 777s tend to have a decent amount of empty sears. I can't imagine the space and power requirements of perma-8-car style stock would be at all worth it.

 

[Sam 76]

3 777s I’ve been on this week have had an noticeable wheel flat. Wonder if that’s the reason they have been short of units this week? If so you’d have hoped that they would have coped with the slippery conditions better than the 507s

 

[Djgr]

If only they went down the sensible route of ordering 120 metre long stock which could hold a lot more passengers than the ~65 metre stock units.

Was on the Chester line on Saturday and one service was uncomfortably overcrowded after Hooton (doesn't help that, that particular service connected with a couple of long distance TfW services at Chester)

Liverpool to Chester/Chester to Liverpool on Saturdays are always rammed both ways