New Merseyrail Trains

[lancs blue]

Apparently when the trains arrive it takes em ages to get the cardboard boxes off and plastic wrapping.

 

[Hickson9]

Not sure if anyone else is interested in the new fleet that should have been on the line about 3 years ago, turns out they've been delayed again until next year.

New Merseyrail trains will not start rolling out this year

It had been hoped the first of the new trains would welcome passengers before 2023

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

Anyone who travels from London to lime st will have seen them sitting at crewe for the last few years.

Would love to know if anyone in the industry has insider knowledge as Rotherham blaming covid and the strikes doesn't sit with me tbh.

I've been on a tour of the Stadler factories in Switzerland and been inside one of the new cars. They're absolutely class.

Basically, the Unions wouldn't sign off working on them because of the guards dispute.

As I understand it - The train doors can be opened/closed by the driver and the Unions want that safety critical element to remain with the guards, to better protect their jobs.

 

[grandjoeblue]

I've been on a tour of the Stadler factories in Switzerland and been inside one of the new cars. They're absolutely class.

Basically, the Unions wouldn't sign off working on them because of the guards dispute.

As I understand it - The train doors can be opened/closed by the driver and the Unions want that safety critical element to remain with the guards, to better protect their jobs.

That was sorted years ago with the unions though wasn't it? It definitely isn't the reason behind the delay.

I'm sure they're say it's hard to get the amount of hours each train needs before they can go live because the merseyrail network is closed and always in use? Does seem odd though they're very late now.

 

[Hickson9]

That was sorted years ago with the unions though wasn't it? It definitely isn't the reason behind the delay.

I'm sure they're say it's hard to get the amount of hours each train needs before they can go live because the merseyrail network is closed and always in use? Does seem odd though they're very late now.

It was still the case this summer just gone.

I was told directly by one of the Stadler Directors.

The Unions wouldn't let their staff do the required testing.

 

[john jako]

Yep

Pos rep

 

[PhilM]

That was sorted years ago with the unions though wasn't it? It definitely isn't the reason behind the delay.

I'm sure they're say it's hard to get the amount of hours each train needs before they can go live because the merseyrail network is closed and always in use? Does seem odd though they're very late now.

From what I've heard, it's down to a number of issues, however one major hurdle has been training, or lack of, due to previous disputes with the unions.

Apparently, it's been difficult to get enough staff into the simulators and on the trains over a period of time to get them into service on a particular line.

You can't run the new Class 777 on the line alongside the 507 and 508 due to the incompatibility of the scheduling, so it's one set or the other.

They aren't there yet in terms of driver numbers on the Ormskirk and Kirkby lines (they're going over first), let alone the Northern Line and finally the Wirral.

 

[summerisle]

New Merseyrail train runs 135km on battery - Liverpool Business News

One of the new class 777 trains set to run on the Merseyrail network travels for 135km on test run using just a battery - paving the way for the network’s expansion

lbndaily.co.uk

 

[4737carlin]

Looking forward to seeing these, although I still prefer British Rail diesel locomotives, nothing will ever beat the roar of a 37 class engine

 

[LEONARD]

Over the past couple of months, seen one or two having 'dry runs' on the Wirral Line.

They look nice, and the current fleet is well past it's sell by date.