I used to love Twitter, but I stopped using it (save for sharing photos with a couple of people) last summer. Good heavens, that's almost a year ago! I don't remember exactly why I got fed up of it, but I do have a lot more time to do things of interest now.
I also banished Facebook and Instagram from my daily use some months ago, one of the best things I've ever done. So I get where you're coming from, I shouldn't need to go to social media to get the information I might need on something. Fine if they're keeping people genned up, that's good, but if they can't be bothered to post an update on their website's specific page for it that's just weird. It doesn't have to be often, but a regular update would be nice, a once a month sort of thing.
I agree social media and what it has become used for is incredibly damaging to society, but using a specific app which otherwise should be banished to have an intelligent conversation with a specific person about something pertinent does not constitute ‘use of social media’ if you ask me.
David Powell is responsible for the fleet replacement, not updating the website.
The thing is, you don't* need information on when 777s will enter traffic. As you are an enthusiast you might want that information, but you don't need it, because the train service is operating using 507/508s.
Thus, they have no obligation to provide it, and as I've outlined they could only be disadvantaged if they did, e.g. they say by Dec 2021 and it's actually Feb 2022 they look stupid unnecessarily.
In fact, as the 777 fleet is publicly owned, being directly bought outright from Stadler by Merseytravel and therefore paid for partly out of council tax in the Liverpool City Region, the procurement is publicly accountable and thus they
are obliged to provide information to the residents of the boroughs of Sefton, Wirral, Liverpool, Knowsley, St Helens and Halton, who paid for them (perhaps also West Lancashire and Cheshire West and Chester where they will also run) but not to enthusiasts in other parts of the country, although frequent updates made to people in the relevant areas should theoretically be visible to people elsewhere.
Level boarding is also dependent on lifts being installed at Hillside and other stations that are still not accessible.
There is a programme of works to be carried out between Southport and Hunts Cross and between Liverpool and Chester that will need to be completed before a pair of coupled 777 units can be used on those routes. Many of the changes relate to signal positions but the reversing siding south of Liverpool Central Northern Line platform also requires modification, though this will not involve excavation to lengthen it. At Southport the solution being looked at involves lengthening platforms towards Marks & Spencer but does not require trains to appear on the ground floor of the shop! Until Network Rail has carried out the programme, expected to be during 2023, 14 x Class 507 sets will be retained after all the 53 x Class 777 are in service to allow longer formations to run on those routes at busy times.
This appears to be highly accurate, as you mentioned the Headbolt Lane unit 777053 which was not part of the original order. I’ve seen the number 14 x 507s to be retained quoted before so this sums it up nicely. It should be noted that only 507s are to be retained, no 508s as they are in worse condition. I wonder if any 507s will ever run to Headbolt Lane, or if the Kirkby line will be run entirely by 8 car 777s from the start. The extension may be battery operated yet.
It has now come to light that Network Rail will no longer exist by 2023, so Great British Railways had better carry out these works as intended, or there will be problems. At any points on the network where there is a disused section of platform behind a fence, will the fence be moved back 10 metres and part of the platform refurbished and reopened, or will only the signals be moved, leaving the cab doors beyond the end of the platform at both ends of the train?
The underground stations have still not received the platform height standardisation for the sliding step and neither has Southport. I can see them re-excavating the cut and cover tunnel at Central and building 4 platforms to reduce overcrowding.
It's saving me money, so I can't complain!
