Forum | Merseyside Dennis Dart Website

Excellent thankyou

Presume a Swiss locomotive will have towed the class 777 unit from the Stadler factory in Switzerland through the channel tunnel to the UK. Will the Swiss loco then return from southern England to Switzerland and the 777 conveyed from the south to Kirkdale by an English locomotive? Thanks.

I would guess that the swiss loco would have been taken off the consist before the tunnel.

This would be due to possible differences in operating voltage of the loco and the overhead wires ( UK 25,000 Volts ) whereas over in europe there are at least 4 different main line overhead wire voltages.

(10/01/2020 13:42)313201 Wrote: [ -> ]I would guess that the swiss loco would have been taken off the consist before the tunnel.

This would be due to possible differences in operating voltage of the loco and the overhead wires ( UK 25,000 Volts ) whereas over in europe there are at least 4 different main line overhead wire voltages.

Thanks for this. Will be interesting to see how things will pan out over the year with deliveries of the 777s and withdrawals of the 507s and 508s. I will miss the 507s and 508s when they have gone as they were new just before I was born so will be like the end of an era when they go. Wonder if any will see further use elsewhere after withdrawal from Merseyrail?

I think at least 2 or 3 of each should be preserved.

At least 507001 & 508143 as there were the 1st and last respectively of each class. Then 2 others from each class.

I say that because 1 of the 508s could be preserved in its original 4 coach formation assuming the correct 4th coach for the chosen unit could be swapped for another from the SWR class 455/7 as further 508s come off use.

The chosen 508 for 4 coach formation could retain the internal seating and cab head and tail lighting in compliance with railway regulations but be repainted back in the original blue & grey livery there wore when delivered.

As for the other 507/8s, they could be repainted in liveries chosen by their owners and be be paired up accordingly if a unit failed. Clearly the 4 coach unit would have to run singly as the platforms cannot take 7 coaches but these are ideas that merseyrail could at least consider.

Any news on 777003.

I heard off a driver yesterday that it was due to arrive at Kirkdale depot sometime today and was just wondering if anyone has any pictures or video showing it arriving.

(13/01/2020 19:58)313201 Wrote: [ -> ]Any news on 777003.

I heard off a driver yesterday that it was due to arrive at Kirkdale depot sometime today and was just wondering if anyone has any pictures or video showing it arriving.

Due to arrive early on Thursday morning at Kirkdale.

(13/01/2020 20:45)childwallblues Wrote: [ -> ]Due to arrive early on Thursday morning at Kirkdale.

Path here, a lot of slack at Crewe though!

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R...5/detailed

(13/01/2020 20:58)ant17612 Wrote: [ -> ]Path here, a lot of slack at Crewe though!

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R...5/detailed

GBRf 66788 doing the honours

How many thought this day wouldnt come in your lifetime , brand new trains for Merseyrail.

Now that the first unit is at kirkdale testing of all the signalling and onboard systems will now commence alongside driver training.

There will also be platform testing to ensure that everyone has got there calculations right after all the platform work done last year.