I think they fit the reversing siding, which after many years of disuse is back in use for Ormskirk (and possibly Kirkby?) trains.
The reversing siding was never "disused" as such - prior to the timetable changes for Maghull North there were still two or three trains every weekday in the morning and evening peak which were booked to reverse in the siding and usually did so. Also used by the regular stock swap workings between Birkenhead North and Kirkdale depots.
It is certainly now being used much more - by (almost?) all Ormskirk trains during Monday to Saturday daytimes, but not in the evenings or Sundays, when the Ormskirk and Kirkby lines interwork as they have done for many years.
I for one thought the new units were not only meant to increase capacity (I assumed seating wise let alone standing), but that their introduction was going in tandem with service improvements. I didn't read that but I assumed that and it's rather disappointing that's not what's happening at the moment.
You will save one or two units from journey time reductions. For example, the initial publicity I think said 9 minutes could be shaved off Liverpool-Southport times. These currently have roughly 20 minutes turnaround time at Southport - if you reduce this, you potentially free up a unit for use elsewhere. Presumably there is also an assumption that availability will be better with brand new trains, allowing the new trains to be utilised more intensively.
However, it does seem that the main capacity increase is from packing more standing passengers in at busy times. For a metro-style operation, this is to an extent understandable, but judging by the regular complaints on Twitter about crowded trains (especially at the moment, as the leaf-fall timetable on the Chester line requires more units, so other lines are being short-formed) this will not be popular.
I appreciate that Merseytravel are a bit strapped for cash, but it's a shame to see a lack of ambition in this area - a growth build is really needed to provide capacity not just now, but for the next few decades. I would have thought that if any of the regularly-discussed extensions (Skelmersdale, Helsby, Wrexham, etc) are to be feasible, that option for extra units will need to be taken up. It would also be nice to have a bit of spare capacity to cater for special events (and avoid a repeat of the embarrassing Giants timetable from last year).
By the way, according to a n
ews item on the Liverpool City Region website, the first trains are now expected to arrive in the UK in December:
Most of the testing is being undertaken at an established railway testing centre in Wildenrath to minimise the need for testing and any associated disruption on the Merseyrail network itself.
The test track focus is on train on-track performance which requires the operational and mechanical elements of the train to be fully functional, while some on-board cosmetic elements are yet to be completed.
The first unit should arrive in the UK in December and will be stabled at Kirkdale as a base for further testing and to allow for driver training. The trains will begin to be rolled out into passenger service from 2020.
