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  1. K

    Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

    At Liverpool Central today (I think it was 049) with its lights off departed empty "out of service" at about 4:15, don't know where this had come from or what the problem was. A few minutes later the Ormskirk train (probably 011) was also taken out of service with a possible door fault
  2. K

    Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

    I travelled on the Ormskirk line today, and both units I travelled on had broken doors/door out of use lights illuminated. I guess as their components will operate over 100 times per day they are now starting to fail. Both were in the end cars which probably get the most use. I presume these...
  3. K

    Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

    I travelled from Moorfields recently at peak time a few days ago (something which I haven't done for a while) On the northbound platform there are now several security guards shouting at people for standing on the grey tiled areas by the exit/entrance passageways, which apparently are a fire...
  4. K

    Asbestos on the UK Railway

    Asbestos use in general building work peaked around 1974 but declined rapidly from around 1985 as different types were gradually banned. I distantly recall an article on mark 2d coaches where BR was adamant asbestos was not to be used in the construction of the new coaches, this must have been...
  5. K

    Liverpool Central new lift - why?

    They have been working on this new lift/shaft for what seems an eternity, maybe since before Easter, so I don't know if they have encountered structural problems or something. The siting is not ideal but I cant see where else it could go.
  6. K

    Euston overcrowding concerns

    I have not been through Euston for a few months, so I don't know if it has re-opened, but is the formerly well used seated food court still closed off, and is this a contributory factor to the overcrowding on the concourse? I went up on to the mezzanine and there were 3 pigeons fighting over...
  7. K

    Are Transpenine Express slowly but surely…improving?!

    Yes - My experience is that they are better now than 6 months ago on TP North, but they were dire then. Lets hope the improvement continues and more passengers return.
  8. K

    What are the "lines" on the top of Mk3 and Mk4 coaches for?

    If I remember correctly the floor 'panelling' on the mK2 and possibly the Mk3 were also ribbed as well as the roof to provide stiffness and strength, the Mk2 floor panels were prone to corrosion and very difficult to repair which is why there are so few (relatively) preserved.
  9. K

    Merseyrail Class 777 travel experiences

    I have been travelling on these for a few months now and what I have consistently noticed is that the internal temperature is too high, often warmer than outside even when it is already a warm day. (OK I know this is a matter of personal preference) There also just does not seem to be enough...
  10. K

    Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

    I've noticed quite a lot of my journeys on the Ormskirk line now take a minute or three longer than they did six months back, and they never seem to make up any time despite the significantly more power available than the 507/8's. Quite bizarre really, I would have expected the opposite.
  11. K

    Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

    Perhaps if they took out the central vestibule pole (which just causes a blockage and problems for prams and bikes) it might encourage people to more uniformly distribute themselves throughout the carriage, rather than just stand next to the doors?
  12. K

    Trivia: Rolling stock that looks/feels ahead of its time

    Travelling on a facelifted Northern 158 the other day (with the thin seats and new grey carpets) a couple of women sat opposite were highly complimentary, one of them even thinking it was a new train! well interior wise, it almost was. Also probably this is the only ever refurbished train where...
  13. K

    Llandudno Junction platform 4

    I believe this is the preferred solution simply to help passengers (especially with luggage) make an easier change of trains without needing to use the stairs and footbridge.
  14. K

    Headbolt Lane progress updates

    Presumably then the former Northern platform will just be abandoned with a pedestrian barrier at the bridge line. Removal of the western buffers gives about 1/2 coach extra length to the Merseyrail platform to the bridge.
  15. K

    Anglia DMU fleet before 2005

    The Liverpool to Norwich trains went to 156's from summer 1988, although it wasn't an hourly service then. By about 1992 they had gone to 158's. From about 2000 for about 6/7 years (until the demise of Central Trains) the trains on the Liverpool route were largely 170's on both the Norwich, and...
  16. K

    Poor platform allocating at Liverpool Lime Street

    It is a shame that this is happening given the expense and disruption of the recent upgrade and increase in platforms, whilst at the same time we have had service cuts. In 2019 we had around 15 departures per hour, now this is down to 11-12 departures per hour. Anyone remember the Calder...
  17. K

    Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

    They are very much brighter internally than the old trains. Ride quality is quite stiff and seats are hard, but not uncomfortable. For some reason they seem to give me the feel and ride similar to a mk4 when they were new. At times you would not think you were on an EMU, they really are very...
  18. K

    What caused the boom in railway passenger numbers between 1995 and 2015?

    I certainly recall this, when the requirement to achieve your 18,000 annual business miles to save a big chunk of tax liability was dropped, staff did start to use trains more, especially for the longer journeys. Since then I think the number of company cars has reduced massively as well...
  19. K

    Merseyrail reduction in calls at Bromborough Rake and Green Lane

    I seem to remember it was 41 minutes Liverpool - Chester when the line was newly electrified. So we have now extended the journey by 7 minutes and miss out 3 stops. I know it was always a tight timetable but this is a bit overkill, the last couple of times the previously fast section between...
  20. K

    Lockdown effects now killing/harming more people than Covid

    The attached video is an interview with a director of ITV news/Sky News from a few months ago. It would seem, from the horses mouth, that media at the time was co-erced to only push one side of the story, not ask any questions, and ignore everything else that did not fit in with the Covid agenda...

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