| Liveries > Merseyrail (2003) |
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Merseyrail (2003) Livery
As part of the 2003-05 refurbishment of the Merseyrail fleet, a new livery was devised by Merseytravel. In keeping with the modernised appearance of the Class 507s and 508s post-refurbishment, the new livery marked a significant departure from the previous yellow and white colour schemes. This was also the first Merseyrail livery to use vinyls as opposed to traditional paint.
508126 is seen stabled in Southport carriage sidings on 18/08/12, retaining a relatively clean 2003 silver and yellow Merseyrail livery.
Photo © James Ross
Livery Summary
| All carriers | 507001/002/003/004/005/006/007/008/009/010/011/012/013/014/015 507016/017/018/019/020/021/023/024/025/026/027/028/029/030/031 507032/033 508103/104/108/110/111/112/114/115/117/120/122/123/124/125/126 508127/128/130/131/134/136/137/138/139/140/141/143 |
|---|---|
| Current carriers (May 2014) |
507001/003/004/005/006/007/008/009/012/013/014/015/019/020/023 507024/025/026/028/029/030/033 508103/104/110/112/117/120/123/124/125/127/130/131/134/136/137 508138/140/141/143 |
| Total | 59 sets |
| First | 508110 (April 2003) |
| Last | - |
Livery Description
Silver is used as the base colour for this livery. The traditional yellow of Merseytravel survives only at the outer ends of driving carriages and on the doors.
Units were vinyled at Eastleigh Works as part of their £32 million refurbishment. The vinyls were manufactured and applied at Eastleigh Works by Halo Rail, a market leader in livery application. This marked the beginning of a long partnership with Merseyrail which would include advertising liveries and name vinyls.
The process began in October 2002 when the first units entered the works, finally concluding over three years later in July 2005 with a total of 59 units treated.
508110 was the first unit adorned with the livery, emerging from Eastleigh for the first time on 16/04/03. 507033 was the last recipient, this set released from the works on 29/07/05.
A major problem with this livery was the lack of protection against weathering and vandalism. Graffiti attacks caused a large proportion of recipients to lose a number of their 'M' logos, with bodyside damage also conspicuous.
Six examples have lost their silver and yellow colours in favour of advertising schemes, although four reverted back. These include 507008/019/033 and 508134 which received four unique Capital of Culture advertising liveries from February 2008. They were put back into Merseyrail colours at Wabtec Doncaster during 2009, with 507033 the last to revert on 09/11/09. More recently, two further advertising liveries have been introduced: The Beatles Story (508111) and Liverpool Hope University (507002).
The now dated livery began to disappear permanently from January 2014, when a programme of re-vinyling into Merseyrail's new livery began.
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The yellow side features shopping, the coast and the sights themes. Doors are white with orange surrounds and an 'M' logo on each. On both sides of the bodywork, images of people make up the background. Outline images in black display representations of amenities and activities, connecting using Merseyrail map lines. Captions are displayed beneath each outline. 507017 is pictured at Hamilton Square on 10/02/14 heading into Liverpool. Photo © James Ross |
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The join between a unit in 2014 livery (507017) and a unit in 2003 livery (508134). Both units were forming the 16.36 West Kirby - Liverpool - West Kirby service on 25/02/14. Photo © James Ross |
Livery Variations
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The first set to be adorned in this livery, 508110, initially carried a front end substantially different from the other 58. Much more yellow is noticeable at the top with only the unused destination blind and the area behind the horns black. The grooves below the light clusters were also painted black. It reverted to the standard front end design during October 2005. The train is pictured standing at Rock Ferry on 04/07/04 working the 13.15 Liverpool Central - Ellesmere Port service. Photo © John Skipsey |
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508131, the third refurbished Merseyrail unit, had another unique front end, although this was less conspicuous. The orange stripe at the top is rounded at either end of the cab, creating a 'wrap' effect. The destination blinds are also outlined in silver. Unlike 508110, this was not corrected. On 18/08/09, it is seen at Rock Ferry forming a service to Chester. Photo © James Ross |
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Carriage 64377 of 507011 received its Merseyrail branding nearer the coupler end of the coach as opposed to between the passenger doors on one side. It was an isolated anomaly, and despite a visit to Wabtec Doncaster for partial re-vinyling, was not corrected. It is pictured at Southport on 18/09/05 preparing to lead the 12.13 train to Liverpool Central. Photo © James Ross |
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The placement of front end 'M' brandings varied somewhat. Two sets, 507003 and 507010, had their 'M's positioned noticeably further to the left than others. These were both corrected during 2009 due to corrosion repairs. In this picture, 507003 is seen resting at Southport before forming a service to Hunts Cross on 18/09/05. Photo © James Ross |
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Liverpool 08 branding was applied to the fleet during 2008, the Capital of Culture year for Liverpool. A total of 55 units were given black logos, illustrated on 507007 in this picture. The remaining 4 sets received Capital of Culture advertising liveries and their logos were in different colours. Unit 508139, damaged at the time, only had partial branding applied and was never seen in public service. 507007 is pictured calling at Kirkdale forming an Ormskirk - Liverpool Central service during summer 2008. Photo © James Ross |
Livery Dates
| # | Unit | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 508110 | April 2003 | - |
| 2 | 508108 | September 2003 | May 2014 |
| 3 | 508131 | October 2003 | - |
| 4 | 508120 | November 2003 | - |
| 5 | 508103 | January 2004 | - |
| 6 | 508104 | January 2004 | - |
| 7 | 508127 | February 2004 | - |
| 8 | 508124 | March 2004 | - |
| 9 | 508143 | March 2004 | - |
| 10 | 508126 | March 2004 | April 2014 |
| 11 | 507007 | April 2004 | - |
| 12 | 507010 | May 2004 | May 2014 |
| 13 | 508112 | May 2004 | - |
| 14 | 507011 | June 2004 | January 2014 |
| 15 | 508114 | June 2004 | February 2014 |
| 16 | 508139 | July 2004 | March 2014 |
| 17 | 507020 | July 2004 | - |
| 18 | 508140 | July 2004 | - |
| 19 | 508128 | August 2004 | March 2014 |
| 20 | 507018 | August 2004 | April 2014 |
| 21 | 507023 | August 2004 | - |
| 22 | 507019 | September 2004 | - |
| 23 | 507016 | September 2004 | April 2014 |
| 24 | 507027 | September 2004 | March 2014 |
| 25 | 507001 | October 2004 | - |
| 26 | 507017 | October 2004 | February 2014 |
| 27 | 508138 | October 2004 | - |
| 28 | 508111 | October 2004 | September 2011 |
| 29 | 508134 | November 2004 | - |
| 30 | 508141 | November 2004 | - |
| 31 | 508136 | Novembr 2004 | - |
| 32 | 508115 | December 2004 | March 2014 |
| 33 | 508125 | December 2004 | - |
| 34 | 508130 | December 2004 | - |
| 35 | 508117 | January 2005 | - |
| 36 | 508137 | January 2005 | - |
| 37 | 507002 | January 2005 | September 2012 |
| 38 | 507003 | February 2005 | - |
| 39 | 507030 | February 2005 | - |
| 40 | 507005 | March 2005 | - |
| 41 | 507006 | March 2005 | - |
| 42 | 507004 | March 2005 | - |
| 43 | 508123 | March 2005 | - |
| 44 | 507021 | April 2005 | April 2014 |
| 45 | 507031 | April 2005 | February 2014 |
| 46 | 507012 | April 2005 | - |
| 47 | 507028 | April 2005 | - |
| 48 | 507029 | May 2005 | - |
| 49 | 507008 | May 2005 | - |
| 50 | 507009 | May 2005 | - |
| 51 | 507025 | May 2005 | - |
| 52 | 507014 | June 2005 | - |
| 53 | 507013 | June 2005 | - |
| 54 | 507026 | June 2005 | - |
| 55 | 507024 | July 2005 | - |
| 56 | 507015 | July 2005 | - |
| 57 | 508122 | July 2005 | February 2014 |
| 58 | 507032 | July 2005 | - |
| 59 | 507033 | July 2005 | - |