The first of 53 new Class 777 trains being built by Stadler has been officially handed over to Merseytravel, on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
The handover follows the conclusion of trials on the Merseyrail network and the recent authorisation from the UK rail regulator (RAIL 938).
It marks a major milestone in the near half-billion-pound project to replace the entire legacy Class 507 and ‘508’ fleets that were first introduced in 1978. Over the coming months, Stadler will hand more trains to the client ahead of introduction into commercial service.
The design of the ‘777s’ is based upon Stadler’s trains used on the Berlin U-Bahn, and testing involved thousands of driving hours on the Merseyrail network and a dedicated test-track in Germany.
To read the full story, see RAIL 939.
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Yannis Chewedhurry van transeet - 03/09/2021 19:24
I look forward to seeing these in service when Buck Rogers arrives in the 25th Century.
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Phillip Goveas - 04/09/2021 08:38
Don't be so cynical, they should be in service before the end of the year if the trials have finished & I for one can't wait.
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Clive Broadhead - 04/09/2021 11:25
Merseyside is moving a step closer to the standard of rail services in London and the South with these modern trains from Stadler
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Clive Broadhead - 04/09/2021 18:33
Merseyrail has done a great job obtaining the funds for these new trains. However, I believe TfN should help NR to complete the overhead electrification of the lines from Liverpool to Wigan and Preston.
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Paul Ainsworth - 06/09/2021 14:38
If these trains can run on battery power why does Steve Rotherham keep saying that the Bootle branch line will have to be electrified before a passenger service can be provided to relieve the chaos on the roads of Anfield, during match days?
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Duncan Wilson - 06/09/2021 22:53
The batteries are oo small. They are meant for low speed, short distance moves such as in depots.
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Andrew Gwilt - 07/09/2021 02:32
An extra 60 Class 777s are also to be built that will add the total of 113 Class 777s on the Merseyrail network. And a farewell tour for the Class 507/8 and Class 508.
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