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(14/11/2025 10:58)NathanR Wrote: [ -> ]Does anyone know why there were 8 car formations on the Ormskirk line on Saturday? I just noticed whilst looking through RTT.

Racing at Aintree

(14/11/2025 11:10)Gordon V Wrote: [ -> ]Racing at Aintree

The 8 car trains didn’t stop at Cressington, though.

(14/11/2025 17:39)507022 Wrote: [ -> ]The 8 car trains didn’t stop at Cressington, though.

Because of technical reasons which will eventually be resolved by Merseyrail

(14/11/2025 17:57)Gordon V Wrote: [ -> ]Because of technical reasons which will eventually be resolved by Merseyrail

I assume it’s because of the SDO on 8 cars which has been ongoing for nearly 3 years!!

(14/11/2025 19:14)507022 Wrote: [ -> ]I assume it’s because of the SDO on 8 cars which has been ongoing for nearly 3 years!!

Yes that's it

It would appear the current set-up of Ormskirk to Hunts Cross and Southport to Liverpool Central may be here to stay for some time longer with Realtime Trains website updating to show the paths as permanent fixtures in the WTT until at least May 2026.
It would be good to see some 8 car weekday services on the Ormskirk line since this is desperately needed for the peaks. Perhaps these could be added as push in services running between Ormskirk and Liverpool Central. Obviously dependent on staffing and unit availability (both of which have had issues recently).