A series of showcase events were held in early September to mark the handover of the first Stadler Class 777 EMU to Merseytravel, which will own the new fleet it has ordered for Merseyrail.
No 777010 was handed over on 17 August, followed on 7 September by No 777008. Merseytravel has ordered 53x4-car ‘777s’ from Stadler, to replace the current Class 507 and 508 EMUs dating from the 1970s. The events at Birkenhead North provided the first opportunity for residents of the Liverpool City Region to explore their new trains. It was also confirmed that seven trains will be fitted with batteries, with a view to using them on services beyond Kirkby to a new station at Headbolt Lane.
Local ownership
Cllr Liam Robinson, Chair of Liverpool City Region's transport committee, explained to stakeholders and press at the 7 September event that the decision to purchase the trains outright meant ownership costs would be one-third lower over the life of the trains than by using the leasing model. Cllr Robinson said the fact the trains are locally owned also means the region has been able to specify exactly what it wants them to provide, in particular highlighting …
