Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

[YorkRanger]

Thank you @meld3 and @childwallblues

Units that have worked include 022 and 025 but also not sure if 144 has worked yet ?

Thought I had seen somewhere that it had worked a service, but possibly confusion with a different unit.

 

[Vinnym]

It has been very quiet on the Merseyrail front the last couple of days. Does this mean things are running properly?

Just travelled on 1901 Central to Ormskirk, left Central 11 late, arrived Orrel Park 13 late where we boarded, overheard guyn in Merseyrail garb talking to Guard, saying this was second time recently he had been called out after interference with doors. Whether that’s true or not nobody knows.

 

[Bertie the bus]

I can't even work out what interference with the doors means. People opening them so they can get on or off?

 

[Vinnym]

I can't even work out what interference with the doors means. People opening them so they can get on or off?

I can only relay what I heard.

 

[Prime586]

I can't even work out what interference with the doors means. People opening them so they can get on or off?

Possbly interference with the RFID dispatch system used to close them?

 

[OutdoorM]

Went on the 777s for first time in a while. The tanoy announcements were far better than previous and everything appeared to be working well. Only two issues

1) The seats are still awful

2) The stand clear of doors / doors closing announcement appeared to come after the doors had already closed

 

[YorkRanger]

Possbly interference with the RFID dispatch system used to close them?

There have been suggestions that some RFID cards (i.e. bank cards, ID cards etc) may be interfering with the system and sending the driver incorrect signals if for example the card is in someone's pocket and they brush against the reader as they're walking past it/standing near it.

 

[ExRes]

Updated Arrival List as follows:
Kirkdale C.S. = 001 to 028 inclusive, 030, 031, 032, 034, 036, 049, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150 and 152.
WOJn MSC Sidings = 043 and 045.
Long Marston = 029

Power cars and barriers back to Walton tomorrow on 5Z46 and then returning to Long Marston on Thursday with 0752 6Q47

 

[Prime586]

There have been suggestions that some RFID cards (i.e. bank cards, ID cards etc) may be interfering with the system and sending the driver incorrect signals if for example the card is in someone's pocket and they brush against the reader as they're walking past it/standing near it.

That would be very poor implementation if that's the case. The RFID reader should read the code from any card in proximity, and if it's not a code it recognises it should ignore it. It shouldn't be possible for a card not known to the system to have any effect.

I could however see RF interference in the same frequency spectrum from the train's systems (traction motors/drive systems, LED lighting, onboard WiFi) or eve nmobile phones causing issues, especially if the original EMC design did not take into account the requirement to support an RFID system (which the 777s didn't). The door panels used by Stadler on the 777s which contain the RFID readers appear to have been made by Algra of Switzerland. However, it seems they have no other products in the RFID sector (they primarily specialise in touch-sensing input systems), which is slighly concerning.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Went on the 777s for first time in a while. The tanoy announcements were far better than previous and everything appeared to be working well. Only two issues

1) The seats are still awful

2) The stand clear of doors / doors closing announcement appeared to come after the doors had already closed

1) Are they? I recently did Lime St to Chester and thought they were surprisingly comfortable. Each to their own though I suppose.

2) Yes, I noticed that as well. It was also about the only announcement that was consistently loud enough to hear clearly.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Well, not even 8AM and a cancellation on the Wirral Line due to a train fault.

 

[py_megapixel]

2) The stand clear of doors / doors closing announcement appeared to come after the doors had already closed

2) Yes, I noticed that as well. It was also about the only announcement that was consistently loud enough to hear clearly.

Someone provided an explanation a while ago for the lateness of that announcement. When the train is sat in a station, the doors close on a timer to save energy. This means that when the driver presses the door close button - which is what triggers the announcement - most of the doors are actually already closed.

Can't vouch for the accuracy of this but it sounds plausible.

 

[Bertie the bus]

At least 5 Class 777s failed today resulting in cancellations including the first service off Ellesmere Port which didn't even make it off the depot and the second service off Ellesmere Port which managed to get all the way to the next station before failing.

If you want to be positive about the 777/1's not failing for 2 days, when there are only 3 in service anyway and they have 7 to pick from, then go ahead.

On reflection I suppose it was good that some people were positive about the 777/1s not failing for a couple of days because it has been back to business as usual yesterday and today.

 

[urbophile]

Went on the 777s for first time in a while. The tanoy announcements were far better than previous and everything appeared to be working well. Only two issues

1) The seats are still awful

2) The stand clear of doors / doors closing announcement appeared to come after the doors had already closed

Speaking personally I find the seats more comfortable than the 507/8s. Firmer (though that's no problem), but maybe the shape of the seat backs is more suited to my size and posture. Not as claustrophobic because they are lower, which combined with the much larger windows makes for a more pleasant journey.

The announcements generally seem to be often a few seconds or more out of synch with reality. 'We are now approaching..' as we are just leaving, and so on.

 

[Liverpool 507]

777049 is causing issues at James Street with a door fault. The unit is blocking the loop which is not ideal at this time of day.

 

[karlbbb]

There’s just been three train failures on three separate lines within 40 minutes. Not great at peak time!

 

[YorkRanger]

After a couple of "ok"* days, they've definitely taken a step backwards today.. I think every line has had issues now today. I've been out on the network for the majority of the day and have a couple of cancellations and delays caused by 777s failing now. You try and praise the fleet and they respond like this .

*Ok by 777 standards.

 

[Sam 76]

After a couple of "ok"* days, they've definitely taken a step backwards today.. I think every line has had issues now today. I've been out on the network for the majority of the day and have a couple of cancellations and delays caused by 777s failing now. You try and praise the fleet and they respond like this .

*Ok by 777 standards.

Worth noting as of the current time the cancellations on the Southport lines were a pair of 507s. Not to defend them as the others are clearly not but thought it was worth mentioning

 

[YorkRanger]

I have just got off 777005 at Ormskirk and the door at the front of the unit is out of order. No announcements from the train manager, even after all the other doors opened and people were trying to exit through the front one. Only a very very small indicator on the door itself, which is particularly easy to miss, especially when you are looking at the button to open the door...

Worth noting as of the current time the cancellations on the Southport lines were a pair of 507s. Not to defend them as the others are clearly not but thought it was worth mentioning

I didn't try and imply that it was exclusively 777s that did break down today, I just said that all of the issues I got caught up in were 777 related.

 

[RHolmes]

777 was taken out of service on the Chester line today and replaced by 507016 from 1pm onwards

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Worth noting as of the current time the cancellations on the Southport lines were a pair of 507s. Not to defend them as the others are clearly not but thought it was worth mentioning

It is worth mentioning, because a lot of the time 507s get cancelled, people don't say because they like them, which I think is poor and biased, only to mention 777 cancelations.

 

[The_Train]

It is worth mentioning, because a lot of the time 507s get cancelled, people don't say because they like them, which I think is poor and biased, only to mention 777 cancelations.

This thread is literally about the 777 introduction so I would say it is entirely fair to discuss their current failings only in this thread.

As you often point out to others on here, there is another thread to discuss the 507s in

 

[Peter Sarf]

It is worth mentioning, because a lot of the time 507s get cancelled, people don't say because they like them, which I think is poor and biased, only to mention 777 cancelations.

The maintenance of the 507s has surely been run down as the 507s were were supposed to be replaced by 777s by now. So it follows that the slow implementation of 777s is the problem.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

This thread is literally about the 777 introduction so I would say it is entirely fair to discuss their current failings only in this thread.

I mean across all Merseyrail threads in general.

The maintenance of the 507s has surely been run down as the 507s were were supposed to be replaced by 777s by now. So it follows that the slow implementation of 777s is the problem.

And the decision to run down maintenance of trains they still need, yes.

 

[sansyy]

777018 failed again on the same circuit this time after alighting at Chester, hasn't left since it arrived and should be scrapped already if I am honest

 

[Peter Sarf]

I mean across all Merseyrail threads in general.

And the decision to run down maintenance of trains they still need, yes.

I doubt if the rudder has been turned on that huge great ship but even if it was....... too late !.

 

[Mag_seven]

Can we stick to discussing Class 777s in this thread please.

thanks

 

[M28361M]

Not sure if this is a new thing or if I've just never seen it before. This morning at Liverpool Central a 777 just arrived from Ormskirk was showing "I'm terminating" on the side displays before shunting into the reversing siding.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Not sure if this is a new thing or if I've just never seen it before. This morning at Liverpool Central a 777 just arrived from Ormskirk was showing "I'm terminating" on the side displays before shunting into the reversing siding.

Haha, terminating that service or terminating altogether?!

 

[sansyy]

Not sure if this is a new thing or if I've just never seen it before. This morning at Liverpool Central a 777 just arrived from Ormskirk was showing "I'm terminating" on the side displays before shunting into the reversing siding.

I noticed a similar thing on a 777 on the Headbolt Lane line where it said “I’m not in service” instead of NOT IN SERVICE so maybe a software update hoping to fix some problems recently