Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

[60159]

As of Tuesday 29 & 43 in Southport sidings 37 out on test.
33, 35 & 47 Warrington.
53 Long Marston.
144 out of identifcation at Kirkdale.
All others working or have worked.

As of Tuesday 29 & 43 in Southport sidings 37 out on test.
33, 35 & 47 Warrington.
53 Long Marston.
144 out of identifcation at Kirkdale.
All others working or have worked.

Many thanks. Due on Merseyrail on Tue so very helpful as is the return of the excellent PTS.

Many thanks. Due on Merseyrail on Tue so very helpful as is the return of the excellent PTS.

Looking at RTT some Chester trains (Northern or ATW) show Walton Old Junction but others don’t.
An I right in thinking they go thro’ the yards and don’t stick to the main line until Acton Grange? How reliable is this or does it depend on traffic on the day?
In the past its been easy to see the 777s from these trains.

 

[Liverpool 507]

777144 has entered service on Headbolt services this morning

 

[Skie]

I am not convinced. Taking off the shoes once every few years to tow the units for overhaul is no big deal. Likewise, shoe clearing the mile of track to Headbolt Lane is simple. Do the shoes raise on the 700s and 717s?

All of the 777s have the longer term potential to venture outside the 3rd rail network as they are all modifiable to either 25kv or Battery operation. So it’s common sense to have the shoe gear lifting kit present to make the original order simpler vs having an additional retrofit cost.

Same with the 390s and their between-seat headphone sockets for Virgin radio. That system was long gone when the additional carriages were purchased but changing the spec would have added extra cost.

 

[WirralLine]

Looking at RTT some Chester trains (Northern or ATW) show Walton Old Junction but others don’t.
An I right in thinking they go thro’ the yards and don’t stick to the main line until Acton Grange? How reliable is this or does it depend on traffic on the day?
In the past its been easy to see the 777s from these trains.

Very common for the TFW serviced to be routed via the old junction rather than mainline, particularly when there's an Avanti north/south booked through at a similar time.

I went past last week, there was a 777 hiding there but it wasn't possible to catch the number and could only catch glimpses of its roof mainly - it was behind a number of stored class 321s in the same sidings.

 

[60159]

Very common for the TFW serviced to be routed via the old junction rather than mainline, particularly when there's an Avanti north/south booked through at a similar time.

I went past last week, there was a 777 hiding there but it wasn't possible to catch the number and could only catch glimpses of its roof mainly - it was behind a number of stored class 321s in the same sidings.

Many thanks.

 

[RacsoMoquette]

All these extensive reliability gremlins on the Class 777s and other variants of UK Stadler METRO stock are extremely outrageous! I always thought Stadler could produce high quality, well engineered trains such as the Greater Anglia FLIRTS which have won Silver Spanner awards recently, while hopefully TFWs examples may follow in their footsteps! I regrettably now associate Stadler's Metro Product performance to be akin to Alstom Junipers and Coradia all those years ago! Until recently I would have always associated Stadler reliable and trustworthy to produce a robust product unlike similar manufactures of the likes of CAF and Hitachi!

 

[Northerngirl]

Have any of their US or European trains had issues recently, because exept for the 755s, every uk train of theirs is late & faulty

 

[stuu]

The 755s had loads of problems when they were introduced. Every new train seems to

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Have any of their US or European trains had issues recently, because exept for the 755s, every uk train of theirs is late & faulty

Every UK train lately has been late.

 

[Westinghouse]

Every UK train lately has been late.

The phrase "Too many bells & whistles" springs to mind.

 

[Prime586]

My next door neighbour was going to meet up with some friends yeaterday in Wigan, which involved using 777/1s between Fazakerley and Headbolt Lane. Both the outward and return Merseyrail portions of his journey were cancelled, and he ended up using the No. 20 bus to get to and from Headbolt Lane instead.

 

[childwallblues]

Every UK train lately has been late.

EVERY? You are exaggerating there!

 

[absolutelymilk]

EVERY? You are exaggerating there!

I got on one the other day that left 30 seconds early!

 

[trainophile]

Think I had probably my last ride on 507001 yesterday , 10:42 Southport to Central. Good to know it's going to be preserved in a new home. Is the £1 purchaser one of our forum members? Apols if I've missed something, have skipped a few pages of this thread as it grew a lot since my last viewing!

 

[Bovverboy]

Every UK train lately has been late.

EVERY? You are exaggerating there!

The OP meant every new UK train has been delivered late. I've no idea whether or not that is true.

 

[karlbbb]

777144 has entered service on Headbolt services this morning

I understand it only lasted a few hours and had to be taken out of service again.

 

[Sam 76]

Has been posted on the 2.0 Facebook page that, it had wheel slip protection faults and PIS issues. Been described as “completely goosed” and unlikely to be out in the near term future

I understand it only lasted a few hours and had to be taken out of service again.

 

[meld3]

777037 has entered service on Southport line today.

 

[Bikeman78]

All of the 777s have the longer term potential to venture outside the 3rd rail network as they are all modifiable to either 25kv or Battery operation. So it’s common sense to have the shoe gear lifting kit present to make the original order simpler vs having an additional retrofit cost.

I think it will be a long time before they go anywhere other than Headbolt Lane. The 700s apparently run all the way to King's Lynn and Peterborough with fixed shoes which is a bigger mileage than the 777s are ever likely to run off the third rail.

 

[nigelsporne]

Just browsing through PTS this morning for the 777s and I noticed unit 51 is on Diagrams 143 but this is not listed. I assume it's a Chester diag. There appears to be one or two less units out today.

 

[Sorcerer]

Tried the 777s for the first time today between Headbolt Lane and Liverpool Central, and it definitely seems like by now most of the old stock has been replaced. I saw maybe one or two 507s. Overall, not necessarily an improvement over the old stock since the seats are harder, but they are fine for shorter journeys, and the level boarding is a huge step-up (or rather no step at all) from the old fleet. Definitely a worthy successor though despite their troubled start.

 

[geoffk]

Tried these out last week, staying with relatives at Cressington. Apart from the hard seats, I found it a nice train to ride on, once I got used to the varying floor levels. The lack of internal doors gave a more spacious feel and the performance seemed good. Level boarding also great for those with mobility issues. The 777/1 trip to Headbolt Lane went without a hitch. I didn't see any network maps inside the train (which the 507s have) and hope these will be provided as they help visitors.

I idly wondered if TfW should acquire some 777s with longer-range batteries for Wrexham - Bidston and extend the service to Birkenhead North, where there is a spare platform and they could recharge off the live rail. A few 507s soldier on between Hunts Cross and Southport.

(We have two similar threads on the go and I'd already posted this one today on "MerseyRail class 777 Travel Experiences".)

 

[cjbirkett]

Lesser spotted 777 144 is on the 12.20 Liverpool Central-Headbolt Lane (4th July)

8 car sets starting August on Southport line from a staff conversation I overheard

 

[RacsoMoquette]

Is the general consensus that the Class 777s reliability is gradually improving since January? When Stadler were forced to compensate? Surely it gave Stadler a warning to up its game immediately! Apart from the pitiful reliability of the Class 777/1 how is it on the Class 777/0s?

 

[nigelsporne]

Is there any sign of the outstanding units going to Merseyside? Surely they will need them soon if there is a proposal to put 8 coach trains on the Southport service.

 

[Sam 76]

Is the general consensus that the Class 777s reliability is gradually improving since January? When Stadler were forced to compensate? Surely it gave Stadler a warning to up its game immediately! Apart from the pitiful reliability of the Class 777/1 how is it on the Class 777/0s?

The doors are still a bit of a pain. Still seem to be failing on the regular. However I do think they are getting there, certainly as a commuter on the Southport Line they don’t seem to be breaking down for long periods of time often, as they have in the past.

If they can somehow sort the door issues I think they actually will be fairly reliable. Even the /1s are getting there in some respects. Compared to the start of the year, at least they can run 4 at the same time now

 

[RacsoMoquette]

That is much uplifting information! The units (apart from their initial reliability woes) are excellent commuter units and are very well suited to their tasks. In my opinion far superior to an Aventra product! Complete with their revolutionary design features really exceeding expectations.

 

[Liverpool 507]

Seems to have been some faults affecting a few units today so far. 777020 failed this morning at Ainsdale working 2U17. I went past it on 2S13 and the doors wouldn't release with passengers not being able to board or alight. The leading cab headlights briefly flickered the taillights back to headlights which I assume might have been related to a reset/key in. It came back out to resume 2S20 from Sandhills but was stopped for around 25 mins at Ainsdale and delayed the train behind by 17 mins at one stage. 777 issues on Ormskirk, Headbolt Lane and New Brighton services today as well.

 

[Djgr]

I think things are on the mend. Certainly 777s are now the normal on the network.

A pity that the train builders failed to do what they were paid for.

 

[Bikeman78]

I think things are on the mend. Certainly 777s are now the normal on the network.

A pity that the train builders failed to do what they were paid for.

There's only three spare 507s so it's pretty much 777 or nothing now. According to Modern Railways the failure rate us still under 600 miles.