Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

[Northerngirl]

You know what I find interesting and only just realised. The 777s don’t have the orange door indicator on the outside. Are there any other units without this operating ?

I noticed that the other day too, they do however have a lighbar above the door that seems to do a similar job

 

[Liverpool 507]

I noticed that the other day too, they do however have a lighbar above the door that seems to do a similar job

That’s only on one side where the doors are released so is no good of you’re on the opposite side


Monday 22nd - Three failures this morning on the Southport line within an hour of each other (777009, 777034 and 777049). Two further failures this afternoon on the Southport and West Kirby lines - (777014 SOP/HNX & 777008 WKI).

Some of the above have been in service well over a year and should be well bedded in by now. Not good.

 

[800001]

That’s only on one side where the doors are released so is no good of you’re on the opposite side


Monday 22nd - Three failures this morning on the Southport line within an hour of each other (777009, 777034 and 777049). Two further failures this afternoon on the Southport and West Kirby lines - (777014 SOP/HNX & 777008 WKI).

Some of the above have been in service well over a year and should be well bedded in by now. Not good.

And what were the failures? This could have happened to a train that could have been in service 5-10 years?

 

[Liverpool 507]

And what were the failures? This could have happened to a train that could have been in service 5-10 years?

The point being that these trains are still plagued with technical issues.

 

[Bertie the bus]

That’s only on one side where the doors are released so is no good of you’re on the opposite side

If you try to board the train from the wrong side you have more to worry about than whether there is an orange light or not.

 

[800001]

The point being that these trains are still plagued with technical issues.

I’ve spent many a day riding these, many a day spotting at stations they service, also using these for commute and social reasons , and yes there are delays, however other the last few months I’ve observed many hours where the trains run exactly to time, and the delays I did witness were due to external factors, ie trespass, track issues etc.
Plagued with problems may be slightly stretching reality.

 

[prod_pep]

Plagued with problems may be slightly stretching reality.

I really don't think so. There are still multiple failures of 777s on a daily basis due to faults. A cursory glance of Merseyrail's Twitter feed betrays this fact, and some early morning and late evening failures are not even shown on there. Things are a tad better but it's glacial progress in the main.

And no, the old 507s are not immune from failure, yet their reliability is vastly superior.

 

[karlbbb]

Once deliveries and acceptance of all 777s is completed, are we expecting Merseyrail to "go back" to the same timetable as previously, with the same services doubled to 8 cars etc? Or will it be a new timetable?

Selfishly looking forward to the 1616 from Central to Ormskirk becoming an 8-car again (5G56 runs from Kirkdale to Ormskirk and joins a service already waiting in the station).

 

[Skie]

Once deliveries and acceptance of all 777s is completed, are we expecting Merseyrail to "go back" to the same timetable as previously, with the same services doubled to 8 cars etc? Or will it be a new timetable?

Selfishly looking forward to the 1616 from Central to Ormskirk becoming an 8-car again (5G56 runs from Kirkdale to Ormskirk and joins a service already waiting in the station).

New timetable. Back before covid they even had an indicative table that showed how many minutes would be saved per journey. Rotherham was even quoted as saying a train every 13 minutes which would be a bit odd.

 

[Vinnym]

New timetable. Back before covid they even had an indicative table that showed how many minutes would be saved per journey. Rotherham was even quoted as saying a train every 13 minutes which would be a bit odd.

Election pending.

 

[Peter Sarf]

New timetable. Back before covid they even had an indicative table that showed how many minutes would be saved per journey. Rotherham was even quoted as saying a train every 13 minutes which would be a bit odd.

A train every Thirteen minutes would surely be more likely to be every Twelve minutes as in exactly Five trains an hour ?.

 

[Bikeman78]

New timetable. Back before covid they even had an indicative table that showed how many minutes would be saved per journey. Rotherham was even quoted as saying a train every 13 minutes which would be a bit odd.

How much time can be saved? Anecdotally, a 777 doesn't seem much better at keeping time than a 507. I suspect longer dwell times will largely cancel out any acceleration benefit.

 

[prod_pep]

Nowhere near as many minutes will be saved as that table suggested. The 777s actually seem to struggle to keep to time with the current timetable in sections of closely-spaced stations, the loop tunnel being one example. They can clearly do longer gaps a little faster than 507s, however.

The expected saving on the Southport line was nine minutes each way I think, which is a gross exaggeration. Perhaps more like two or three is realistic with the current setup?

 

[Bevan Price]

Nowhere near as many minutes will be saved as that table suggested. The 777s actually seem to struggle to keep to time with the current timetable in sections of closely-spaced stations, the loop tunnel being one example. They can clearly do longer gaps a little faster than 507s, however.

The expected saving on the Southport line was nine minutes each way I think, which is a gross exaggeration. Perhaps more like two or three is realistic with the current setup?

They need to find a way to reduce station dwell times.

 

[paddyb6]

How much time can be saved? Anecdotally, a 777 doesn't seem much better at keeping time than a 507. I suspect longer dwell times will largely cancel out any acceleration benefit.

They do well Hooton to Chester, often arrived early at Bache.

 

[ExRes]

RTT schedule for Wednesday 1529 5Q77 Long Marston to Kirkdale CS

 

[karlbbb]

Election pending.

Yep, he actually knocked on our front door a few days ago.

 

[Skie]

A train every Thirteen minutes would surely be more likely to be every Twelve minutes as in exactly Five trains an hour ?.

It may have been 12 mins! This was 4 years ago, memory for Politician bluster isn’t my strong point.

 

[urbophile]

They need to find a way to reduce station dwell times.

Is there a reason why there is often a long wait between the train stopping and the doors being released? I can see the need to check before departing, but why can't they be released immediately?

 

[Grumpy Git]

Is there a reason why there is often a long wait between the train stopping and the doors being released? I can see the need to check before departing, but why can't they be released immediately?

I see you're not familiar with LNW on the Liverpool-Birmingham route then?

 

[Peter Sarf]

I see you're not familiar with LNW on the Liverpool-Birmingham route then?

I have really noticed this pause while the guard decides if the driver has parked properly. That was on a train Euston to Wolverton and return. Never noticed it before. So are we all getting more cautious.....

 

[childwallblues]

My friend saw 777038 out on test on the Southport line yesterday.

 

[8A Rail]

Early this morning, No 777029 and 037 were delivered to Kirkdale from Long Marston, which leaves three remaining at the latter location.

Kirkdale C.S. = 001 to 032 inclusive, 034, 036 to 039, 041 049, 051, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150 and 152.
Long Marston = 043, 045 and 053.
Europe = 033, 035 and 047

 

[karlbbb]

Anecdotally, it feels like the 777s have nose-dived in reliability over the past few days. It's been a little while since I've had this many alerts from the Merseyrail Twitter account about train faults.

 

[DJH1971]

Early this morning, No 777029 and 037 were delivered to Kirkdale from Long Marston, which leaves three remaining at the latter location.

Kirkdale C.S. = 001 to 032 inclusive, 034, 036 to 039, 041 049, 051, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150 and 152.
Long Marston = 043, 045 and 053.
Europe = 033, 035 and 047

When are the final 3 units set to arrive in the UK?

 

[73001]

If you try to board the train from the wrong side you have more to worry about than whether there is an orange light or not.

The conversation was about rail staff crossing the tracks at places like Chester, not boarding the train. If the side lights are on they can cross knowing the train isn't going to move off. Can't tell with 777s.

 

[8A Rail]

When are the final 3 units set to arrive in the UK?

Pass - sorry. Need to ask Stadler / Merseyrail I think.

 

[1D54]

Simply from an enthusiasm side of things where is the best place to go and park oneself for an hour or two so as to see as many of this particular class as possible?

 

[8A Rail]

Simply from an enthusiasm side of things where is the best place to go and park oneself for an hour or two so as to see as many of this particular class as possible?

Not that easy as they work on two separate circuits, i.e. Wirral and Northern lines. Ignoring the Underground Stations, in order to keep away from any possible hassle, certainly for the 'Northern' lines, suggest Sandhills Station as all Northern lines converge in that area. On the Wirral lines, for Chester / Ellesmere Port either Birkenhead Central or Rock Ferry, for West Kirby / New Brighton, would suggest Birkenhead North Station. Given you propose time span, I suggest go to Sandhills Station, other members may suggest something different?

 

[Liverpool 507]

The current unit diagrams (including the remaining six 507 diagrams) have been written in to the June - December 24 timetable. The proposed diagrams from June have been removed. Will be interesting to find out when the remaining nine units do leave the network.