Retired Southend Pier diesels are recalled – to replace the new electrics!
DESPITE only entering public service in April this year, the Southend Pier Railway has temporarily withdrawn its new electric units following continuing technical issues.
Accordingly, one of the redundant full-length diesel units has temporarily returned to replace its own replacement!
In April, one of the two new electric units – MP Sir David Amess, named in memory of the Southend MP who was murdered last October – developed a fault which saw passengers trapped inside when the doors failed to open.
Since then further issues have plagued both this unit and the second one that had yet to complete testing – leading to the reintroduction of one of the 1986 diesel units they were brought in to replace.
The exact nature of the issues currently facing the new trains has not been disclosed.
Coun Carole Mulroney, Southendon-Sea Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment, culture and tourism, said: “Our officers are workinag hard with the manufacturers to make sure that all issues are identified and fixed, with more on-site tests planned over the next few weeks, so that both trains can run safely and reliably in the future.”
Introduced as part of a £3.2 million project to create an ecofriendly railway, the first unit has not been in service since the end of April, with the diesel unit drafted in from August 10 to operate a halfhourly service.
The second of the two retired diesel units has seen several of its carriages converted for use as shelters at the Pier Head station.
The temporary service led to long queues, with priority given first to those who had pre-booked tickets or visitors who had mobility issues. A pier railway spokesman said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused and are awaiting further reports for a more definitive timescale on the completion of any remedial work.”