Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

DanNCL · 10 Jul 2018

dp21 said:
Definitely not a 777 if you look at the body profile. On the 777s they have your usual (tumbledown or whatever it's called) along with the "toblerone" - introduced as a weapon against people falling down the gap.

This just has flat sides.

99% sure there's been an error here somewhere.

James James said:
On top of the body shape being wrong, the Windows and doors completely don't match spec AND the 777 is supposed to have a flat floor. Looks like a continental Flirt. To be fair, the Rail post doesn't actually claim that this is a photo of the 777, just that a 777 is starting to be built.

I did say in my second post that I did think it looked a bit odd. As for the rail post, if they knew it wasn't a 777 then they shouldn't have used this image on a post relating to the 777s

RailUK Forums

390112A · 11 Jul 2018

I think that is possibly a 777 as the floor is flat and the door way does look like that shown in the concept photos i would also like to add that using external panels and just adding more stuff in general to the body shell may change it's shape.
(This is just a thought I have no engineering experience)

Bletchleyite · 11 Jul 2018

390112A said:
I think that is possibly a 777 as the floor is flat and the door way does look like that shown in the concept photos i would also like to add that using external panels and just adding more stuff in general to the body shell may change it's shape.
(This is just a thought I have no engineering experience)

It’s not, the body is totally the wrong shape. It’s a Euro FLIRT or a GTW/WINK.

notlob.divad · 12 Jul 2018

It also has the wrong number of windows and the incorrect numbers wither side of the door to be any of the carriages in the concept design.

However it is good to know that they are cracking on with the things, even if the picture is incorrect.

OneThirtyEight · 18 Jul 2018

Stadler flythrough video of remodelled Kirkdale Depot.

M28361M · 13 Aug 2018

Merseyrail have announced a programme of station and line closures between October 2018 and June 2019, to prepare infrastructure for the new trains.

Please bear with us

Your brand new trains are on track for 2020. To prepare for their arrival, platform upgrade works will take place from October 2018 to June 2019, and will involve station and line closures, although we'll be running rail replacement buses during this time.

More information will be released before each closure, letting you know exactly how your station and line will be affected and how we will support you getting from A to B. You may see no difference at first, but you’ll definitely feel the benefits in the long-run.

Pioneering Platforms

This programme of works is all about getting the Merseyrail network ready for the arrival of our new groundbreaking trains. They will be faster, safer, more comfortable than ever, and able to carry 50% more passengers. Getting you there safely is at the heart of what we do. Your new trains will have extensive CCTV, the carriages will be open, light and bright and you can see right down the train. They will have wider aisles with better space for wheelchairs, bikes prams and luggage. These new trains will boost the regional economy by £70 million pounds every year, create around 1,000 new jobs, and make Merseyrail the most accessible rail network in the UK.

You will benefit from a number of modern features including sliding step technology which will result in unassisted access for all and you will be able to get on and off the trains much more easily. This technology represents a pioneering approach for the UK. We need to do some work to the platforms before the new trains arrive and in readiness for the sliding step.

Looking at the map they have provided, most lines will be closed for 1-2 weeks each, but some stations will be for longer.

IanXC · 14 Aug 2018

M28361M said:
Merseyrail have announced a programme of station and line closures between October 2018 and June 2019, to prepare infrastructure for the new trains.

Looking at the map they have provided, most lines will be closed for 1-2 weeks each, but some stations will be for longer.

I have copied this post into a new thread in Infrastructure and Stations, here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/merseyrail-stations-platform-upgrade-work.168368/

If we can stick to stock discussion on this thread and infrastructure on the above one, that would be great.

Arcadia77 · 16 Aug 2018

I see Merseytravel have got a mock-up of the new train which the Liverpool Echo have been to visit and done an article on. Looks very smart - apparently going on display at Lime Street in November to the public.

Edited to add the correct link in!

Bletchleyite · 16 Aug 2018

Arcadia77 said:
I see Merseytravel have got a mock-up of the new train which the Liverpool Echo have been to visit and done an article on. Looks very smart - apparently going on display at Lime Street in November to the public.

Looks decent - pretty much a higher-floor Euro-FLIRT. I note that the cab window is no longer clear but frosted - I guess the unions won that one.

The mock-up appears to be essentially a complete vehicle above the floor rather than what you usually see (though has two doors on the end coach so isn't a totally faithful copy) - the doors in particular appear to be proper ones, with the person speaking having to hold them open as they started to auto-close.

This is the proper link by the way, the above one is to Lime St works:

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/first-look-inside-futuristic-new-15031395

Lighting is interesting - as well as the standard FLIRT ceiling level cool white there seem to be additional warm white strips above the luggage rack. I'm not sure this is entirely necessary, they may be a bit bright?

Arcadia77 · 16 Aug 2018

Bletchleyite said:
Looks decent - pretty much a higher-floor Euro-FLIRT. I note that the cab window is no longer clear but frosted - I guess the unions won that one.

The mock-up appears to be essentially a complete vehicle above the floor rather than what you usually see (though has two doors on the end coach so isn't a totally faithful copy) - the doors in particular appear to be proper ones, with the person speaking having to hold them open as they started to auto-close.

This is the proper link by the way, the above one is to Lime St works:

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/first-look-inside-futuristic-new-15031395

Lighting is interesting - as well as the standard FLIRT ceiling level cool white there seem to be additional warm white strips above the luggage rack. I'm not sure this is entirely necessary, they may be a bit bright?

Thanks - not sure how I ended up putting that link in originally?!

Mikey C · 16 Aug 2018

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/first-look-inside-futuristic-new-15031395#r3z-addoor

This is the direct link to the horrible website story!

Nice looking trains, something similar (with OHLE) would seem perfect for the Tyne and Wear Metro

michael74 · 16 Aug 2018

Looks good, I do wonder how they will deal with the tight radius of Hamilton Square and the sliding step.

samuelmorris · 16 Aug 2018

Bletchleyite said:
Looks decent - pretty much a higher-floor Euro-FLIRT. I note that the cab window is no longer clear but frosted - I guess the unions won that one

Smart glass evidently, according to the second video on the page. I wonder if that'll end up with a situation at some point where a train has to be taken out of service due to the cab glass being stuck in the 'transparent' setting when the driver has deemed it unsafe to continue as such. It's bound to happen at some point...

MCR247 · 17 Aug 2018

samuelmorris said:
Smart glass evidently, according to the second video on the page. I wonder if that'll end up with a situation at some point where a train has to be taken out of service due to the cab glass being stuck in the 'transparent' setting when the driver has deemed it unsafe to continue as such. It's bound to happen at some point...

ICE 3s have smart glass where frosted is the default to get avoid this happening so I imagine Stadler will be using something similar

jopsuk · 17 Aug 2018

samuelmorris said:
Smart glass evidently, according to the second video on the page. I wonder if that'll end up with a situation at some point where a train has to be taken out of service due to the cab glass being stuck in the 'transparent' setting when the driver has deemed it unsafe to continue as such. It's bound to happen at some point...

my understanding is that most "smart glass" uses a liquid crystal layer that is opaque in the "rest" state and only goes clear when a small voltage is applied across it (with a very low current draw), so the "failure" state would always be cloudy.

Bletchleyite · 17 Aug 2018

jopsuk said:
my understanding is that most "smart glass" uses a liquid crystal layer that is opaque in the "rest" state and only goes clear when a small voltage is applied across it (with a very low current draw), so the "failure" state would always be cloudy.

Yeah, LCDs can either be "normally clear" or "normally opaque" depending on which way round you place the polarising layers either side of it. Try it with an old broken calculator if you like

jopsuk · 17 Aug 2018

Bletchleyite said:
Yeah, LCDs can either be "normally clear" or "normally opaque" depending on which way round you place the polarising layers either side of it. Try it with an old broken calculator if you like

Hours* of fun to be had with polarised specs and LCD watches/timers/calcuclators and even many phone screens.

lyndhurst25 · 17 Aug 2018

jopsuk said:
Hours* of fun to be had with polarised specs and LCD watches/timers/calcuclators and even many phone screens.

And car dashboard displays - you can't read the ones on my car wearing polarising sunglasses - a bit of a stupid design error, that.

Arcadia77 · 31 Aug 2018

Think this was missed when it was first published - looks like there is a mock-up of the new Merseyrail trains that's going to go on public display:

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/first-look-inside-futuristic-new-15031395

Not open to the public yet but seems that it'll be on display at Lime Street (wonder where they'll put it??) in November. Looks very smart - layout is quite continental.

Journeyman · 31 Aug 2018

Certainly looks impressive, with a lot of customer input and thought put into the design. I suspect Stadler will be winning more orders off the back of this - Tyne and Wear must be looking closely.

Bletchleyite · 31 Aug 2018

Journeyman said:
Certainly looks impressive, with a lot of customer input and thought put into the design. I suspect Stadler will be winning more orders off the back of this - Tyne and Wear must be looking closely.

This is classic Stadler - build exactly what the customer wants (from simple stuff like the colour of buttons and type of seats right through to loading and track gauge) using standardised modular components.

Not the classic "you can have an Aventra, the options are what colour you paint it, the door layout, the length and what seats you put in it".

Journeyman · 31 Aug 2018

Bletchleyite said:
This is classic Stadler - build exactly what the customer wants (from simple stuff like the colour of buttons and type of seats right through to loading and track gauge) using standardised modular components.

Not the classic "you can have an Aventra, the options are what colour you paint it, the door layout, the length and what seats you put in it".

It'll be interesting to see how far they can go with customisations, and how small a build is economic for it. I've never thought there was a good business case for tourist-orientated West Highland Line stock, but maybe there is!

Itching to ride an Anglia FLIRT now.

Mikey C · 31 Aug 2018

Of course the real test is how well these Stadler trains work, seeing that they have little UK experience

Not that UK experience seems to have done much good to Bombardier with their Aventra problems!

swt_passenger · 31 Aug 2018

Arcadia77 said:
Think this was missed when it was first published - looks like there is a mock-up of the new Merseyrail trains that's going to go on public display:

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/first-look-inside-futuristic-new-15031395

Not open to the public yet but seems that it'll be on display at Lime Street (wonder where they'll put it??) in November. Looks very smart - layout is quite continental.

Confused. This is the same info as posts #98, #99 and #101 made at the time surely?

Bletchleyite · 31 Aug 2018

Journeyman said:
It'll be interesting to see how far they can go with customisations, and how small a build is economic for it.

They've done some very small fleets (including scenic coaches) for the Swiss narrow gauge lines.

Not a FLIRT (though Stadler have recently supplied the same operator with a smallish fleet of GTW derivatives too), but there's this - 20 LHCS coaches which are *very* custom - narrow gauge bodies but adjustable gauge bogies. Through GoldenPass services have been a long time in the making!

http://www.railjournal.com/index.ph...le-gauge-coaches-for-goldenpass-services.html

While of late they have supplied some large orders, I think they would still happily take orders of the scale that Vivarail are, i.e. one unit here, two there.

chiltern trev · 26 Sep 2018

RAIL 861 September 12 - September 25 2018, page 23 said - "It is currently at Make.North.Docks venue until October. It will then be moved to Pacific Road Business Hub in Birkenhead, and then the city's main station at Lime Street in November."

I contacted Make.North.Docks this morning and have the following reply -

"Unfortunately the train was only for private consultation whilst at Make North Docks however it will be open to the public over at Pacific Road, Woodside from 1st – 14th October and then at Lime Street from 5th November through to 19th November where the staff on the mock up will be happy to show everyone the features of the new trains.

I believe the opening times are 9 - 5pm but its worth giving Pacific Road a ring to check. "

I have yet to contact Pacific Road Business Hub.

M28361M · 26 Sep 2018

Times for the public viewing of the mockup confirmed on Merseytravel's website (announcement is dated last week but I completely missed it):

Pacific Road, Birkenhead, CH41 1LJ: 1-14 October, Mon-Sun 8.00 to 17.30, Tues 8.00-19.30

Liverpool Lime Street, L1 1JD: 5-18 November, Mon-Sun 7.00 to 18.30

https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/abo...-new-Merseyrail-trains-on-public-display.aspx

stuart100100 · 3 Oct 2018

Had a nosey around it today at Pacific Road. Nice and bright, loads of extra space. Enjoyed sitting in the drivers cab even if all the buttons were fake

geoffk · 8 Oct 2018

stuart100100 said:
Had a nosey around it today at Pacific Road. Nice and bright, loads of extra space. Enjoyed sitting in the drivers cab even if all the buttons were fake

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I looked at this yesterday while visiting the bus and tram event. Apart from the now obligatory hard seats it seemed to go down well with everyone. If they are to run as 8-car formations then some platforms will need lengthening.

Bletchleyite · 8 Oct 2018

Platforms will not need lengthening, the door positions deliberately avoid this.

Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

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