Merseyrail legacy fleet updates (Class 507/508)

[Jacob Porrett]

I saw them at Shrewsbury today. 508128 and 508111. 37884 was doing the honours.

 

[childwallblues]

Reported by Merseyside Dennis Dart that 508124 and 508125 have both been stood down at Birkenhead North EMU Depot. 124 finished on Wednesday. I rode the unit on Tuesday from Birkenhead Park to Liverpool Central.

 

[M28361M]

With credit to MerseyRailways 2.0 on Facebook, this is apparently the planned sequence of 508 departures to Sims.

Dates are a bit flexible but
124/125 w/c 09th Oct.
137/112 w/c 23/10
139/141 w/C 06/11
103/136 w/c 27/11
114/108 w/c 11/12
104/131 w/c 18/12.
120 last 508 to run up to 31/12.

 

[Sam 76]

With credit to MerseyRailways 2.0 on Facebook, this is apparently the planned sequence of 508 departures to Sims.

Gosh the 777s really will have to start picking up the pace soon then. Given no doubt the 507s will follow at similar pace in the new year

 

[prod_pep]

507001 and 508141 are in charge of today's 1725 Kirkdale - Ormskirk 'footex'.

With the West Kirby line down for engineering, there are two very rare 6 cars on the New Brighton line today, formed of 507016 + 507031 and 507033 + 508112. The other two workings on this branch are formed of 507011 and 777013.

 

[3973EXL]

Realtime Trains | 5Q78 1155 Birkenhead North E.M.U.D to Newport Docks (Simsgroup) | 09/10/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q78 1155 departure from Birkenhead North E.M.U.D to Newport Docks (Simsgroup) on 09/10/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[samrammstein]

508124 and 508125 have now departed for Newport. Also of note, 507028 was working the Kirkby services at lunchtime today, can't be long left for the old stock on that route.

 

[TheSel]

508124 and 508125 have now departed for Newport. Also of note, 507028 was working the Kirkby services at lunchtime today, can't be long left for the old stock on that route.

Didn't post #860 (below) tell us that class 50x could not work beyond Fazakerley once the line to Headbolt Lane was opened?

... Once the whole line to Headbolt has been opened this special dispensation will be taken away and electric services will be banned from operating past Fazakerley.

 

[geoffk]

How can you not blame Stadler. They built the trains and they fix the trains.. The 508 are life expired. No overhaul can change that. This is another Rotherham pipe dream that has failed, his buses are the same and we are the ones suffering. Financially too.

But this is happening elsewhere isn't it - old trains being stood down before their replacements (new or cascaded) are ready to enter service with crews trained. Not just a Merseyrail issue.

 

[TheSel]

But this is happening elsewhere isn't it - old trains being stood down before their replacements (new or cascaded) are ready to enter service with crews trained. Not just a Merseyrail issue.

Applies to staff too. Perhaps no-one should be allowed to retire until a replacement is fully trained [no pun intended] and available.

[Says he, having taken early retirement at 58!]

 

[Northerngirl]

Didn't post #860 (below) tell us that class 50x could not work beyond Fazakerley once the line to Headbolt Lane was opened?

As far as I'm aware all the services that are reversing at Kirkby are still 777/0 so maybe they are still permitted

 

[TheSel]

As far as I'm aware all the services that are reversing at Kirkby are still 777/0 so maybe they are still permitted

Post #997 suggests otherwise.

 

[L401CJF]

Post #997 suggests otherwise.

Reported on the 777 introduction thread that 777/0 and 50X units are still allowed to run to Kirkby under a temporary arrangement until the full Headbolt Lane timetable comes into force if I remember rightly.

I didn't realise 508124/508125 were leaving yesterday, caught be by surprise seeing a 508 pass by my 150 on the Wrexham-Bidston service near Neston!

 

[jamesst]

Didn't post #860 (below) tell us that class 50x could not work beyond Fazakerley once the line to Headbolt

The 777/1s lift the shoes on approach to Fazakerley (towards Kirkby) and drop them on approach to Kirkby (towards Liverpool).

At present both 777/0s and 507/8s can run as far as Kirkby from Liverpool. This is only under a temporary agreement with Network Rail and involves the driver having to contact the signaller on every trip before restarting at Kirkby towards Liverpool.

Once more 777/1s are ready for passenger service then they will solely run to Headbolt Lane on a 15min frequency.

When this occurs then the temporary agreement will be ended, Kirkby will no longer be a turnaround point and all 777/0s and 507/8s will no longer be allowed past Fazakerley.

Hope this clears it up!

 

[reddragon]

With credit to MerseyRailways 2.0 on Facebook, this is apparently the planned sequence of 508 departures to Sims.

Dates are a bit flexible but
124/125 w/c 09th Oct.
137/112 w/c 23/10
139/141 w/C 06/11
103/136 w/c 27/11
114/108 w/c 11/12
104/131 w/c 18/12.
120 last 508 to run up to 31/12.

508.126/130 are not listed but still in service?

 

[L401CJF]

508.126/130 are not listed but still in service?

Both already departed for Sims few weeks back.

 

[lrailadventure]

508.126/130 are not listed but still in service?

126 went in August
130 went start of this month

 

[reddragon]

must of missed those 2 departing!

 

[Bikeman78]

When this occurs then the temporary agreement will be ended, Kirkby will no longer be a turnaround point and all 777/0s and 507/8s will no longer be allowed past Fazakerley.

Hope this clears it up!

How will they get back from Fazakerley? Is a new cross over being installed?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

How will they get back from Fazakerley? Is a new cross over being installed?

I assume they'd just move to the junction past Fazakerley then just come back but without passengers.
Or ideally, just no non-battery units have to go up that way anyway.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

With credit to MerseyRailways 2.0 on Facebook, this is apparently the planned sequence of 508 departures to Sims.

Many thanks for this information. I wonder when the final 507s will run? I suppose they have to wait for 777s to do Southport.

 

[DJH1971]

Have 508124 & 508125 been stood down yet?

 

[The_Train]

Have 508124 & 508125 been stood down yet?

Both gone to Sims

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Have 508124 & 508125 been stood down yet?

They went to Newport the other day so probably tin cans now.

 

[prod_pep]

508114 is on the Kirkby line tonight, forming the 1935 from Central at present. As it is the last evening before the second Headbolt Lane train is introduced, is this the last 507/8 on the Kirkby line in regular service?

Also, 507018 is on the Ormskirk line and should do the 2016 service from Central next. That accounts for the 777 which went boom early this morning.

I have to say 508114 is a great ride and by far the best of the remaining 508s, so it would be great to see it on the farewell tour.

 

[lrailadventure]

I have to say 508114 is a great ride and by far the best of the remaining 508s, so it would be great to see it on the farewell tour.

Taken from the MerseyRailways 2.0 Facebook group while discussing which units will be used for the farewell tour:

139+141 or 103+104. Obviously we will take what's on offer but above is what has been requested. But as there will only be 8 examples to choose from any could feature.139 +141 are first choice as they will be withdrawn very shortly after. Others are reserve

 

[prod_pep]

508141 which was used on the last railtour. That's a shame, frankly. 508103 and 508104 are two awful units and both sound like a generous spray of WD40 wouldn't go amiss!

 

[The_Train]

508141 which was used on the last railtour. That's a shame, frankly.

I'm not sure this is something to be too bothered about. It's hardly the same situation as booking onto a rail tour with a class of freight loco that never works pax services, hoping for a red pen loco and finding it to be the same loco you got on your last tour

 

[Blaahh]

Apologies, if i cant find it on the forum but I am looking for the routes the 507/508s are still timetabled to be running on in mid November, so i can plan a short break to get a few shots of them. I would be very grateful and then i can find somewhere non railway loving wife-friendly to stay too.. Thanks!

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Apologies, if i cant find it on the forum but I am looking for the routes the 507/508s are still timetabled to be running on in mid November, so i can plan a short break to get a few shots of them. I would be very grateful and then i can find somewhere non railway loving wife-friendly to stay too.. Thanks!

Given mid-November is quite soon, I'd guess they'll definitely still be on the Southports and to any Wirral destinations (in a mix of 50x and 777).