Merseyrail

File:Merseyrail logo.gif
Overview
Franchise(s)	Merseyrail 20. July 2003 – 2028
Main Region(s)	Merseyside
Other Region(s)	North West Cheshire, South West Lancashire
Fleet size	59
Stations called at	67 (all operated by Merseyrail, except Chester)
Parent company	Serco-NedRailways
Reporting mark	ME
Other
Website	www.merseyrail.org

Merseyrail is the name given to the electric metro-style commuter train network centred on Liverpool in the metropolitan county of Merseyside. The name was used as the official brand for the network in the days of British Rail, and has stuck through several franchise holders, although the name was not used by the previous operator Arriva. Merseyrail is referred to as Merseyrail Electrics by National Rail Enquiries, and as Serco/Ned Railways Merseyrail by Merseytravel.

The Merseyrail system

Liverpool's Merseyrail (sometimes referred to as the Merseyrail Underground, or Merseyrail Electrics) is one of the most frequent metro-style British commuter systems outside London, transporting 100,000 passengers a day. The service is run on a similar basis as Germany's S-Bahn or Denmark's S-Tog. Frequencies are Monday to Saturday: every 5 minutes on the inner section, every 15 minutes within the urban area, and every 30 minutes to longer distance suburban destinations (such as Chester & Ellesmere Port); Sundays: every 30 minutes to all destinations, giving half the frequency on the inner section compared to other days, with the exception of summer months when frequencies are increased to near weekday levels. Trains run from before 6am until around midnight. Frequencies are maintained from first until last train, with additional services during peak hours. Merseyrail owned services run on two lines covering the Liverpool suburban area and greater Merseyside, with a total track length of 120 km, 75 miles and 67 stations. The Northern Line links Liverpool with Southport, Ormskirk, Kirkby and Hunts Cross, while the Wirral Line, extending under the River Mersey, links Liverpool with New Brighton, West Kirby, Chester and Ellesmere Port. The two lines are entirely electrified, using a 750 V DC third-rail. The City Line isn't Merseyrail owned but is run with similar frequencies.

Unlike local train networks in other British cities, the regular frequencies on all lines provide for cross city connections. Northern and City Line services interchange at Liverpool South Parkway in the south of the city and Lime Street in the city centre; the Northern and Wirral lines interchange at Liverpool Central and Moorfields.

Due to the one-way nature of the inner section of the Wirral Line, most Northern Line passengers wishing to travel to Lime Street for mainline national rail services tend to walk the short distance from Liverpool Central, instead of changing at Moorfields or James Street.

History

The underground sections in the centre of Liverpool and under the River Mersey to Birkenhead form the nucleus of the network. The Mersey Railway Tunnel was opened in 1886, running from Green Lane, Birkenhead and terminating at James Street in Liverpool. This route was extended to Liverpool Central in 1890. A branch to Birkenhead Park was added in 1888 to connect with the Wirral Railway and the original line extended to Rock Ferry to connect with the Birkenhead Woodside to Chester line in 1891. It was electrified in 1903. The ex Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway line from Liverpool Exchange to Southport was electrified in 1906. Further electrifications on the Wirral line took place in 1937 (New Brighton and West Kirby), 1985 (Hooton), 1993 (Chester) and 1994 (Ellesmere Port). Electrification of the Bidston-Wrexham line has also been proposed.

The present system in Liverpool dates from the 1970s, with the construction of the 'Loop' and the 'Link'. The Loop is a single-track tunnel, along which Wirral Line trains run clockwise from James Street to Moorfields, Lime Street, Central and back to James Street. The Link is a twin-track tunnel, which connects the former Cheshire Lines Committee route in the south of Liverpool to the former Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway lines in the north, via Liverpool Central and Moorfields (which replaced Liverpool Exchange station). The present twin island Northern Line platform at Liverpool Central was originally the terminus of the Wirral lines. One of the original single underground lines between James St and Central has been retained to connect the Link and the Loop lines. This is used for transfers of rolling stock, but never used for passenger services.

Merseyrail lines

Merseyrail map.

Northern Line

Main article: Northern Line (Merseyrail)

Services on the Northern Line operate from Hunts Cross in the south of Liverpool, via the Link tunnel through Liverpool Central and Moorfields, to Southport. Services also run from Liverpool Central to Ormskirk and Kirkby. Each route has a train every 15 minutes Monday-Saturday giving a five-minute interval between trains on the central section. Connections are available at Southport to Wigan Wallgate, at Hunts Cross to Warrington Central and Manchester Piccadilly, at Ormskirk to Preston and at Kirkby to Wigan Wallgate and Manchester Victoria.

Wirral Line

Main article: Wirral Line

Services on the Wirral Line operate from the Loop described above through the Mersey Railway Tunnel to Hamilton Square station in Birkenhead. From there, they run either south to Hooton, where they continue to either Chester or Ellesmere Port, or west to Birkenhead North, where the line bifurcates to New Brighton and West Kirby. Connections are available at Bidston on the West Kirby branch, for the Borderlands Line to Wrexham operated by Arriva Trains Wales, at Chester to Holyhead and Manchester and at Ellesmere Port to Warrington.

Monday-Saturday services are every 15 minutes from Liverpool to New Brighton and to West Kirby, and every 30 minutes to Chester and Ellesmere Port (Monday - Sunday). These combine to give a service every five minutes around the Loop.

City Line

Main article: City Line (Merseyrail)

This line is not part of the Merseyrail franchise and neither is it operated by the electric stock. Nevertheless, the lines that form this line are sponsored by Merseytravel and - with the exception of long distance services - are branded as if they were Merseyrail services, despite being operated by Northern Rail. Broadly speaking, it includes the Liverpool to Wigan Line and the two alternative branches making up the Liverpool to Manchester Line.

Non-Merseyrail City Line Services

Other trains operated by First Transpennine Express, Virgin Trains and London Midland trains to Crewe, Runcorn and Birmingham also run on the ‘City Line’. However, these are not referred to as ‘City Line’ services as they are long distance services and only serve two or three stations in Merseyside, such as Liverpool Lime Street, South Parkway, Hunts Cross or Newton-le-Willows. The First TransPennine Express will begin calling at Liverpool South Parkway by the next timetable change.

Feet on seats

Merseyrail employs a team of officers who enforce railway by-laws relating to placing feet on seats, travelling without tickets, and other aspects of anti-social behaviour. Merseyrail is the only UK train operator to take such a vigorous approach, a stand which has proved popular with commuters. Anti-social behaviour is now rare on the system.

The enforcement of this bye-law by Merseyrail has been viewed as 'Draconian' by many parties. In september 2007 Merseyrail took Kathleen Jennings, 19 to court over the feet on seats bye-law. The offender was given an absolute discharge and the case was thrown out of court by the Chester Magistrates court.

The Franchise

Following the privatisation of the UK rail network, the Merseyrail service was run first by MTL under the name Merseyrail Electrics, then Arriva Trains Merseyside, before its award to a consortium of Serco and NedRailways (a division of Nederlandse Spoorwegen) in 2003. The current franchise is contracted to the consortium for an initial 25-year period. The Merseyrail franchise, referred to officially as a "contract", is awarded by the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive rather than the Department for Transport which issues all other franchises. The only other exception is the franchise for the London Overground network, awarded by Transport for London in 2007. Merseyrail is given such exception because the franchise is self-contained and separate from the rest of the British railway network - no other services normally run over the third-rail network. As a result of this isolation, the franchise-holder is keen to adopt vertical integration - taking responsibility for maintenance of the track from Network Rail. The current Franchise Manager is Dave Davenport.

Performance

Operating as a self-contained network there are relatively few problems because of less conflict with other TOCs. Merseyrail has publicly committed to aiming to be the best train operating company in the UK . The latest figures released by the Office of Rail Regulation report that Merseyrail's PPM is 94.8% and the MAA is 94.7%. This makes Merseyrail the second best performing operator for the fourth quarter of the financial year 2007/8.

Fleet

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Unit numbers	Routes operated	Built
			mph	km/h
Class 507		electric multiple unit	75	120	32	507001-021, 023-033	Northern Line Wirral Line	1978 - 1979
Class 508/1		electric multiple unit	75	120	27	508103, 104, 108, 110-112, 114, 115, 117, 120, 122-128, 130, 131, 134, 136-141, 143	Northern Line Wirral Line	1979 - 1980

Services on the Merseyrail network are operated by the 1978-built Class 507 and 1979-built Class 508 EMUs. These replaced pre-war Class 502 (originally constructed by the LMS) and almost identical Class 503 EMUs. There are a total of 59 trains in service on the network. Twelve 508s were transferred to Connex South Eastern in 1996, a further three were transferred to Silverlink to supplement their fleet of Class 313 EMUs in North London. One Unit 507022 was scrapped after a collision with 507004 in 1991 and 508118 has been cut up after having been gutted by an arson attack.

Merseyrail's specially painted 507019 unit, made to celebrate Liverpool's capital of culture year.

The fleet is maintained and stabled at either Kirkdale TMD or Birkenhead North TMD, the two depots on the network. Minor repair works and stock cleaning takes place at Kirkdale, while overhauls are completed at Birkenhead. Other depots at Hall Road and Birkenhead Central have since been closed. The fleet has recently been internally and externally refurbished, involving units being dragged to and from Eastleigh works behind Class 67 locomotives. An assessment is currently taking place as to whether it would be viable to reopen the Birkenhead Central depot, which would increase the efficiency of Merseyrail services. The Merseyrail fleet is due for renewal in 2013.

To celebrate Liverpool's successful 2008 European Capital of Culture bid, Merseyrail named one of their train sets (508136) 'Capital of Culture'. Interestingly, a previous ceremony took place where Cherie Blair, the wife of then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, named 508143 Capital of Culture. Currently, 508136 bears simple vinyl stickers.

In February 2008 the first of four sets in a special Capital of Culture promotional livery was released. Set no. 508134 has been emblazoned in a purple livery showcasing the "creative" element of the city. Three more have since followed in blue "maritime", green "heritage" and red "sport" colours.

From July 2008, four trains are being named after true Merseyside icons following a poll in local newspaper, the Liverpool Echo. The first, named 'Red Rum', was unveiled at Southport on 14 July, 2008 by Ginger McCain. Three more will follow, named 'Bob Paisley', 'Dixie Dean' and, somewhat predictably, 'The Beatles'.

A number of Northern Rail Class 142 DMUs are in Merseyrail yellow livery, ostensibly for City Line services, but these can and do turn up all over the Northern network - they have often been seen as far away as Carlisle. Several Class 150 sets also wore the Merseytravel yellow livery for several years, but have since been repainted into other liveries.

Merseyrail formerly had four Class 73 electro-diesel locomotives for shunting, sandite trains, engineering works and other departmental duties; two of these had been repainted in the yellow livery of the previous franchise holder. These locomotives were sold to a preservation company in 2002.

Future

There have been various suggestions for ways to enlarge the Merseyrail network. Some would extend beyond the current area, whilst others would use former existing lines or track beds. In about 2013 the current Merseyrail fleet will need to be replaced, if trains capable of use beyond the DC network are selected as replacements then various expansions can be achieved without electrification of the entire new route.

Historic Map showing some of the lines to be reused

Electrification

Third-rail electrification has been suggested for many lines, of which the Borderlands Line from Bidston to Wrexham, adding another branch to the Wirral Line, is perhaps the most likely. Another option is to electrify between Ellesmere Port and Helsby, extending the Wirral Line.

Electrification from Ormskirk to Preston would re-establish the most direct Liverpool-Preston route. This, coupled with the reinstatement of the Burscough curves and possibly Midge Hall station, would allow direct Preston-Southport and Ormskirk-Southport services and provide an alternative Liverpool-Southport route. Another possible extension of Northern Line services, filling in a gap in the electrified network, would be from Kirkby to Wigan Wallgate. This was originally planned to take place during the construction of the Loop and Link tunnels, but financial constraints at the time meant that only electrification to Kirkby was possible, in 2007 funding is in place to extend electrification to a new station beyond Kirkby at Headbolt Lane.

The re-opening of part of the North Mersey Branch line between Aintree and Bootle New Strand stations to passenger services is included in Sefton's transport plan. This would involve using Sefton Junction and would enable the reopening of Ford and Linacre Road stations, along with the possibility of a further two stations also on this stretch of line.

Reopening

The Canada Dock Branch (currently a busy freight-only line) could be reopened to passengers, allowing the reopening of Spellow, Walton & Anfield, Breck Road, Tue Brook, Stanley and Edge Lane stations. This would provide a connection from the Northern Line (south of Bootle) to Liverpool Lime Street and the City Line. In July 2007 it was suggested that Liverpool FC could fund the reopening of this line to provide a direct rail link to their new stadium. If trains capable of use beyond the DC network are selected as replacements, "then the case for bringing the Bootle Branch into passenger service operation will be examined". There is now some suggestion about introducing passenger services on this line in the Local Transport Plan for Merseyside.

The original 1975 plan for Merseyrail included the use of the southern section of the North Liverpool Extension Line at least as far as Gateacre. The reconnection of Skelmersdale has also been proposed "requiring two mile rail restoration to re-establish link to town of 35,000". This is presumably the Skelmersdale Branch line to Rainford Junction on the Kirkby to Wigan Wallgate line or to Ormskirk, the Ormskirk route is more intact. The opening of the Halton Curve to passenger traffic to provide a Liverpool-Runcorn-Crewe connection is under consideration, with an additional station on the curve.

New Works

File:FutureMerseyrail.jpg

Diagram of proposed system

During the construction of the Link line in the 1970s, provision was made for an underground junction south of Liverpool Central station. This was to access a new tunnel, via a new underground station at the University of Liverpool on Bedford Street South; a small road to the south of Abercromby Square. From University station, it would then join the Victoria Tunnel and Waterloo Tunnel to provide a connection to Edge Hill, the use of Wapping Tunnel had also been considered. Further electrification works would then have meant some City Line services (e.g. from St Helens Central) could have been connected to the Merseyrail network.

In 1975 An Act of Parliament was passed to allow the construction of this scheme, but it was never built. Restarting it would very likely be prohibitively expensive. However following the collapse of the Merseytram scheme in 2006 proposals are being considered to reuse both tunnels.

Stations

Merseyrail/Merseytravel is undertaking a programme to refurbish stations and build some new ones. Liverpool South Parkway is a new interchange station that links the Northern Line, City Line, long distance services, buses and the airport, and opened in 2006. Bootle Oriel Road is nearly complete and trains now stop there. Sandhills station, which is an interchange for the Northern Line branches along with buses to Anfield and Goodison Park, opens later in 2008. James Street underground station in the City Centre has re-opened after being refurbished and is the nearest station to the new Liverpool One complex. Refurbishment of other city centre stations are also planned.

External links

• Official Website
• Travel Wise: Merseyrail