Old and new: Passenger impressions…
Class 507s and ‘508s’
Merseysiders who depend upon rail travel for their job will have perhaps ridden in ‘rattly’ Class 507 and ‘508s’ from starting their first job right up to their retirement.
They would have noticed big changes afoot when the first Class 777 (777003) arrived at Kirkdale depot on January 20 2020, and began trials without passengers on the Kirkby line during March.
Over the years, regulars will have experienced the many upgrades to the current stock including new high-back seating and wall panels, as well as ceilingmounted digital destination displays that also list some of the most significant tourist attractions such as the Beatles Story and U-Boat Museum.
The improvements have not included air-conditioning, or resolved the worst problem of all: not being able to see out of any of the windows properly.
None of the high-back seats line up with the windows, and it requires acrobatics to stretch out and work out which station you are passing through. The pretty scenery on the coastal routes cannot be enjoyed without getting a sore neck and back. Driver-operated sliding doors are also insensitive to people’s needs.
There is also poor provision for bikes, and groups of half a dozen or more can jam the vestibules and spill over into the seats nearby. It’s the same for wheelchairs and buggies.
Class 777s
An internal inspection of a new Class 777 is inevitably a little artificial, because it can only take place under supervision at Kirkdale depot. But from first appearances, it seems that many ideas have been carried through from low-floor European metro trains and trams.
A Passenger Focus survey conducted in 2013 revealed what customers wanted: easy access, more standing room, better information, and greater security. This steered the thinking of Merseytravel’s Rolling Stock Programme Director David Powell, who conducted the guided tour on July 22.
There are 162 (Standard Class only) seats. They are wider and better upholstered, with other space for up to 50% more passengers - totalling almost 500. Either by planning or coincidence, the colour scheme of grey and pale yellow is the same as Manchester Metrolink.
Unlike the ‘507s⁄508s’, there is no dividing door between the vehicles, thus offering a clear view down the train.
Passengers can open the doors themselves, and intelligent safety steps automatically sense the size of the gap between the train and the platform edge, reducing it to 35mm if needed to give complete step-free access. Door sensors also detect obstructions, and the illuminated edges to the interior doorways tell passengers instantly whether it is safe to board or disembark.
There are more grabrails, and next to some of the vestibules are clearly marked areas for wheelchairs and bikes. These can be expanded further by folding the seats next to them.
WiFi may sometimes be a problem in tunnels, but at least there are mobile phone charging points and USB sockets at every seat.
Station information systems in the walls above the seats now give times of arrival at all intermediate stations.
A new feature alongside the display is live transmissions from 16 on-board CCTV cameras - the same images as viewed in the control room. All interior features, including the panels and larger windows, have antigraffiti coatings.
Compared with its predecessor, the roomy driving cab is a different world. It takes up around two-thirds of the front end, and drivers will enjoy the contoured seat, excellent driver sight lines, and automated side doors.
On the right-hand side is a door housing a retractable emergency gangway of bespoke design, mandatory for all Merseyrail units because they work in tunnels. A simple button control opens the door in seconds and lays down a flat sheet of steel panel to walk into the next unit.
The stations
A journey on Merseyrail today (it only costs £4.20 for an off-peak day pass) is one of anticipation.
There is evidence of investment everywhere, and a buzz about the ‘777’ service being ready to roll once union agreements are secured, drivers trained, and the sets commissioned (a four-day exercise and 500 trouble-free miles, which has to be done locally because there are no suitable 750V DC third rail test facilities in Europe).
With a few inevitable exceptions in ‘socially difficult’ areas in or close to Liverpool city centre, the system looks smart in corporate colours. The well-preserved architectural gems of Birkenhead North and New Brighton are prize winners in this respect.
Right: There is no mistaking the large area for cycles in a Class 777. How many customers will notice there are not two, but three securing clips? Thanks to Merseytravel’s Rolling Stock Programme Director David Powell for pointing this out.