Merseyrail Class 777 introduction updates

[Harryn9000]

Theres barely any staff to run the existing service (which will be reduced again imminently) let alone even consider training I'm afraid.
In addition any kind of training or non essential assessments are cancelled until further notice, I cant see anything other than a heavy delay to the new stock running.

i hope they ain't reduced any further it bad enough getting kirkby now

 

[142 007]

i hope they ain't reduced any further it bad enough getting kirkby now

Bad enough getting to Kirkby, theres still two trains an hour, plus a regular bus service

 

[Harryn9000]

Bad enough getting to Kirkby, theres still two trains an hour, plus a regular bus service

but when u live the other end of city no where near them bus services . the service is vital for me atm

 

[Pinza48]

Interesting, how many 777s is completed to date.
I know of two so far. 777001 777003

Saw a picture of 777005 and 777007 last week looking completed and 777013 being put together in the factory.
Isn't 777002 with 001?

 

[Vespa]

Saw a picture of 777005 and 777007 last week looking completed and 777013 being put together in the factory.
Isn't 777002 with 001?

Thanks for the update.
Not been able to find the photos you mentioned.
Do you have a link please ?

 

[Pinza48]

Thanks for the update.
Not been able to find the photos you mentioned.
Do you have a link please ?

#581 shows 777007 and scroll across for other 2 pictures includes picture of 755403

 

[Vespa]

Ok thank you.

The initial page is interesting, I looked further into it and found another article within it talking about Merseyral.class 777 in depth and merseyravel.

I only know if you have seen it.
http://www.railvolution.net/news/a-visit-to-stadler-siedlce-4

 

[Pinza48]

Ok thank you.

The initial page is interesting, I looked further into it and found another article within it talking about Merseyral.class 777 in depth and merseyravel.

I only know if you have seen it.
http://www.railvolution.net/news/a-visit-to-stadler-siedlce-4

Very Interesting read

 

[Wezz]

Video from @SirWezz on Twitter. I think that is Rice Lane station. Sounds a little bit like the Stadler stock on the Berlin U-Bahn, which is understandable I suppose.

EDIT: The same user has now added a slightly longer version of the same video.

Yes that's Rice Lane, 777 003 has done a couple of runs throughout the last few weeks, that was the first run but I missed it when it was heading to Kirkby, they've postponed the test runs until further notice following government advice.

The whole program will likely be delayed now.

 

[MR-507508]

It looks as though 777003 is back out this morning running on test on the Kirkby line. From what I recall, this is only its third test run so far, or have there been more?

 

[M28361M]

It looks as though 777003 is back out this morning running on test on the Kirkby line. From what I recall, this is only its third test run so far, or have there been more?

So it is - 1X03 currently making its way towards Kirkby on OpenTrainTimes. Surprised that they are doing testing in the current pandemic situation, but I suppose if the staff are available then they might as well take the opportunity.

 

[Skie]

1X03 and 1X04 were showing up at Kirkby at 1am. Wonder if the rescue unit came out to play?

 

[Scouse77]

1X03 is the journey to Kirkby, 1X04 is the return. It happens on service trains.

 

[Skie]

Oh yeah, that makes sense now.

 

[Scouse77]

Out again tonight

 

[Scouse77]

And doing loops between Walton Junction to Kirkby

 

[Vespa]

Obviously picking the small hours to have a practice run.
Not many photos of them doing runs so far.

 

[Scouse77]

Yes, I think it made five return journeys from the crossover at Walton Junction and around to Kirkby

 

[paddyb6]

I live near the Chester/EPort line and see the units alot, they do look like they have virtually ALL been cleaned very thoroughly, even including the bogies. So they may have had an exam recently.

 

[Skie]

Could the new Stadler wash plant be the reason units look cleaner? They were positively minging whilst the plant was being rebuilt and then a week or so before lockdown a few looked almost new. I’d presume the new wash plant is much more effective than the old one.

 

[MR-507508]

Could the new Stadler wash plant be the reason units look cleaner? They were positively minging whilst the plant was being rebuilt and then a week or so before lockdown a few looked almost new. I’d presume the new wash plant is much more effective than the old one.

I agree, the units are looking good at the moment.
The end of 2019 was bad. The new wash plant was broken (or not working correctly) and units, externally, were in a bad state. This was especially true for units on the Chester/Ellesmere Port line. With the winter timetable in operation on these lines, some units often go a number of weeks without ever visiting Kirkdale depot for a wash.
I remember 507032 on the Chester line in November and passengers on the platform were astonished by the amount of dirt on the outside of the train. That not helped by the fact people had started to write in the dirt-things such as "clean me".
Thankfully, they are looking much cleaner at the moment.

 

[childwallblues]

What is happening with the old washer plant at Birkenhead North?

 

[jamesst]

What is happening with the old washer plant at Birkenhead North?

A new one is meant to be getting built which will service TfW Wrexham services as well as Merseyrail. Sadly there was an error made with the measurements so it's a tad behind schedule...

 

[DBS92042]

It looks like another 777 is being taken from Dollands Moor to Kirkdale on Wednesday 22nd.

Realtime Trains - 6M29 0244 Dollands Moor Sdgs to Kirkdale C.S.

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Vespa]

How many 777 is completed so far ?

 

[DJH1971]

It looks like another 777 is being taken from Dollands Moor to Kirkdale on Wednesday 22nd.

Realtime Trains - 6M29 0244 Dollands Moor Sdgs to Kirkdale C.S.

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Any idea of which 777 it will be?

 

[DBS92042]

Any idea of which 777 it will be?

I don't know which one it'll be, sorry.

 

[MR-507508]

It looks like another 777 is being taken from Dollands Moor to Kirkdale on Wednesday 22nd.

Realtime Trains - 6M29 0244 Dollands Moor Sdgs to Kirkdale C.S.

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Please see my post (#598) on this. There are a number of planned movements of this type over the coming months on RTT and some have already passed.
With the current situation in place, most of these will be unlikely to happen- at least the movements planned over the next few weeks and months.

 

[DBS92042]

Please see my post (#598) on this. There are a number of planned movements of this type over the coming months on RTT and some have already passed.
With the current situation in place, most of these will be unlikely to happen- at least the movements planned over the next few weeks and months.

Sorry, I'd missed that post and I hadn't seen any of those paths on RTT except the last one which ran.

 

[Skie]

Please see my post (#598) on this. There are a number of planned movements of this type over the coming months on RTT and some have already passed.
With the current situation in place, most of these will be unlikely to happen- at least the movements planned over the next few weeks and months.

The project director has said they are trying their damnedest to get units over despite the current crisis. In theory it could be easier than it was for 003, as that had a French strike and so an entire country to skirt. With rail traffic vastly reduced and lots of staff now sitting spare they may have a chance of threading the needle.