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Merseyrail
A Class 777 in service on the Wirral Line at Chester in 2024
A Class 777 in service on the Wirral Line at Chester in 2024
A Class 507 at Bidston in 2023
A Class 507 at Bidston in 2023
Overview
OwnerMerseytravel, Network Rail
Area servedLiverpool City Region and surrounding areas
Locale
Transit typeCommuter rail
Number of lines2 (plus main line commuter services)
Number of stations69 (67 managed[a])
Annual ridership25.5 million (2022/2023)[3]
Chief executiveNeil Grabham[4]
HeadquartersRail House, Liverpool
Websitewww.merseyrail.org Edit this at Wikidata
Operation
Began operation1886 as the Mersey Railway, 1977 as expanded Merseyrail
Operator(s)Merseyrail Electrics 2002 (Serco and Transport UK Group)
Infrastructure manager(s)Network Rail
CharacterCommuter rail, National Rail franchise
Number of vehicles57
Train length3 or 4 cars, 6 or 8 cars during peak times
Headway15 minutes (general), 5 minutes (central sections), 30 minutes (Ellesmere Port branch, general in evenings and on Sundays)
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC third rail
System map

Unofficial map depicting the Merseyrail network and surrounding lines

Merseyrail is a commuter rail network which serves Merseyside and adjacent areas of Cheshire and Lancashire. Merseyrail serves 69 stations, 67 of which it manages,[b] across two lines – the Northern Line and the Wirral Line. The network uses 750 V DC third rail electrified lines having 75.0 miles (120.7 km) of routes, of which 6.5 miles (10.5 km) are underground. Since January 2023, Merseyrail commenced replacing its train fleet, withdrawing the Class 507 and 508 trains and introducing 53 new Class 777 trains.[5][6] The network carried 25.5 million passengers in the 2022/2023 statistical period.[7]

The concession to operate Merseyrail is held by Merseyrail Electrics 2002, a joint venture between Serco and Transport UK Group (formerly Abellio UK).[8][9] The concession is awarded by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and is overseen by Merseytravel, the passenger transport executive which co-ordinates public transport across the Liverpool City Region. Merseyrail branding and ticketing is also applied to stations on the City Line, which are within the Liverpool City Region but do not form part of the Merseyrail concession.

Merseyrail was established in 1977, when existing railway lines were connected by constructing new tunnels under Liverpool city centre and Birkenhead. The network has since been extended at its peripheries, primarily by electrifying existing lines and transferring the electrified sections into Merseyrail. New stations have also been opened. Seven of the Class 777 trains can operate using batteries, which has allowed the Northern Line to extend beyond the electrified track at Kirkby to a new terminus at Headbolt Lane.[5]

Merseyrail has its origins in the underground Mersey Railway of 1886, which forms the core, being the world's second underground passenger railway after the 1863 Metropolitan Railway, now a part of London Underground. The network has a number world firsts.

Network[edit]

class=notpageimage|
Geographic map of the Merseyrail network, City Line, and minor routes.
  Northern line
  Wirral line
  MT City Lines
  Primary route
  Secondary route
  Rural route
  Goods line
  Disused line

The self-contained network is operated by Merseyrail Electrics 2002, a 50:50 joint venture between Serco and Transport UK Group. Two lines known as the Northern Line and the Wirral Line compose the electric third-rail part of the network, which has service frequencies of 15 minutes in outlying areas converging to rapid transit frequencies in central sections. The lines are electrified throughout using a 750 V DC third rail system. The City Line, marked red on the map, is operated primarily by Northern with funding from Merseytravel.

The City Line is mainly electrified with one branch, the Liverpool to Manchester line via Warrington, operated by diesel trains.[10][11]

Trains on the Northern Line and Wirral Line cover the Liverpool City Region. The total route length of the two lines is 120.7 km (75.0 miles),[6] accommodating 67 stations.[6] The lines connect Liverpool city centre with cities and towns on the outer reaches of the city region, such as Southport, Chester and Ormskirk. Frequent intermediate stops serve other sections of the urban area.

Unlike similar networks in the UK, Merseyrail infrastructure is owned and maintained at a national level by Network Rail. As a self-contained system serving a single City Region, the Northern and Wirral Lines are exempt from the national rail franchising structure, which is instead the responsibility of local government. The City Line, which shares infrastructure with regional and high-speed services and trains with neighbouring mainline commuter services (particularly that of Manchester), is not part of this exemption.

A station sign with a large yellow 'M' logo and the name 'Old Roan' underneath. Icons mark rail and bus services.
A typical suburban Merseyrail totem at Old Roan station, marking an interchange with rail and bus services

The three lines interchange as follows:

Northern Line[edit]

Main article: Northern line (Merseyrail)

The Northern Line is shown in blue on the Merseyrail[12] and Merseytravel[13] maps and denoted by the above wordmark on underground stations. Services operate on three main routes: from Hunts Cross in the south of Liverpool to Southport via the Link tunnel from Brunswick station through central Liverpool, from Liverpool Central to Ormskirk, and from Liverpool Central to Headbolt lane via Kirby. Each route operates a train every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday, giving a frequent interval between trains on the central section. Some additional trains run at peak hours on the Southport line.

On matchdays at Everton F.C.'s Goodison Park and Liverpool F.C.'s Anfield, Northern Line services connect with the SoccerBus service at Sandhills station to transport fans to the stadia. Bus departures are at frequent intervals from Sandhills station with ticketing to combine both modes of travel. Kirkdale station is within walking distance of Goodison Park.

Connections to non-Merseyrail services are available at:

Wirral Line[edit]

Main article: Wirral line

The Wirral Line is shown in green on the Merseyrail[12] and Merseytravel[13] maps and denoted by the above wordmark on underground stations. Services operate from the four terminus stations of: Chester, Ellesmere Port, New Brighton and West Kirby. Each service from one of these the terminus stations runs through Birkenhead Hamilton Square underground station in Birkenhead, then through the Mersey Railway Tunnel, continuing around the single track underground loop tunnel under Liverpool's city centre. Trains head back into the Mersey Railway Tunnel to return to one of the four terminus stations.

Monday-Saturday services are every 15 minutes to/from Liverpool to Chester, New Brighton and West Kirby, and every 30 minutes to/from Ellesmere Port (Monday–Sunday). These combine to give a service at least every five minutes from Birkenhead Hamilton Square and around the loop under Liverpool's city centre.[14]

Connections to non-Merseyrail services are available at:

  • Bidston on the West Kirby branch for the Borderlands line to Wrexham, operated by Transport for Wales;
  • Chester to Crewe and London Euston, Wrexham and Shrewsbury, the North Wales Coast line to Llandudno and Holyhead, and to Manchester either via Warrington or via Northwich and Knutsford;
  • Ellesmere Port for an infrequent service to and from Warrington;[14]
  • Liverpool Lime Street for intercity and regional trains to London Euston, Manchester, Birmingham, Wigan, Scotland, the Midlands and Wales.

City Line[edit]

Main article: City Line (Merseytravel)

Thatto Heath station is branded Merseyrail with trains operated by Northern.

The City Line is the brand name used by Merseytravel on services out of the mainline platforms of Liverpool Lime Street railway station to 26 stations on its sponsored network, and cross-boundary destinations outside of the Liverpool City Region. Merseytravel has policies in place to improve the service frequency, new services and to invest on the City Line. Despite the City Line being operated by other train operators than Merseyrail, it is marketed and branded as Merseyrail to meet the passenger transport executive's aims to provide the network with a local identity and shared fare and ticketing structures.[15][16][17] The line is depicted on signage and maps using the colour red and the above word mark.[12][13]

Unlike the Northern and Wirral lines, the City Line is not operated by the Serco-Transport UK Group joint venture.[13][12]

The City Line covers the Liverpool City Region sections of the Crewe–Liverpool line, the two Liverpool–Manchester lines, and the Liverpool–Wigan line.[17][18] Two services are not electrified, the Manchester via Warrington Central and Chester via Runcorn.

Northern mainly operate the City Line with additional services operated by TransPennine Express, Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, Transport for Wales, and West Midlands Trains.[13][18]

History[edit]

Main article: History of Merseyrail

The History of Merseyrail dates back to the 19th century, with the original formation of the Mersey Railway and the Mersey Railway Tunnel, among the first underground railway tunnels.[14] The modern Merseyrail network was developed in the 1970s from lines that were previously owned by several different railway companies. The Beeching axe during the early 1960s closed key routes in and around Liverpool, with the council proposing an alternate strategy and advocating the preservation of suburban services integrated into a new regional electrified rapid-transit network. The network underwent a period of electrification and expansion, becoming a single network in 1977, with a major project being the Loop and Link line, creating a continuous underground route through Liverpool city centre.[19]

Over the years, several new stations such as Conway Park in 1998 and Maghull North in 2017 have been added to the network. Most recently in 2023, Headbolt Lane has opened and is served on the network by battery-electric trains.[20] Various proposals have been suggested on how to further expand the network, including beyond the Liverpool City Region area. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced in August 2019 that it was planning to use part of a £172 million funding package to reopen St James Station in Liverpool City Centre,[21] officially confirmed as Liverpool Baltic station following a public vote in April 2022.[22]

Services[edit]

For City Line services, see City Line (Merseytravel) § Services.

Point-to-point or return tickets are purchased from staffed offices or ticket machines, but the system is tightly integrated with Merseytravel's City Region-wide pass system, which also encompasses the Mersey Ferries and city and regional bus networks. Merseytravel's smart ticketing is via the local MetroCard smartcard system, including Merseyrail travel.[23]

Typical weekday off-peak service on the Merseyrail-run Northern and Wirral Lines, as of May 2023, is as follows:

Northern Line
Route tph Calling at
Hunts Cross to Southport 4
Liverpool Central to Ormskirk 4
Liverpool Central to Headbolt Lane 4
Wirral Line
Route tph Calling at
Liverpool Central to New Brighton 4
Liverpool Central to West Kirby 4
Liverpool Central to Chester 4
Liverpool Central to Ellesmere Port 2
  • Liverpool Lime Street (Liverpool-bound only), Moorfields (Liverpool-bound only), Liverpool James Street, Birkenhead Hamilton Square, Birkenhead Central, Green Lane, Rock Ferry, Bebington, Port Sunlight, Spital, Bromborough Rake, Bromborough, Eastham Rake, Hooton, Little Sutton, Overpool

Fleet[edit]

Current fleet[edit]

Class 507[edit]

Services on the electrified Merseyrail network are operated by British Rail Class 507 electric multiple unit trains (EMUs). These along with the British Rail Class 508 electric multiple unit trains replaced pre-war Class 502 (originally constructed by the LMS) and similar Class 503 EMUs. There are 22 trains in service on the network.

The fleet was refurbished between 2002 and 2005 by Alstom at a cost of £32 million, involving trainsets being transported to and from Eastleigh works. Improvements to the trains included new high-backed seating, interior panel replacement, new lighting, the installation of a Passenger Information System and a new external livery.[24]

A farewell tour for the Class 508 operated using units 508139 and 508141 took place on 29 October 2023.[25]

Class 777[edit]

On 28 January 2020, Swiss rolling-stock manufacturer Stadler Rail provided the first of a new fleet of 53 new train sets, designated Class 777, built at Stadler's factory in Bussnang, Switzerland. The final units were due to enter service in 2021.[26] The trains are based on the METRO platform, Stadler's product family for underground trains also used on the Berlin U-Bahn and the Minsk Metro. The new trains are a custom-built, bespoke design specifically for the Merseyrail network, with driver only and guard capability.[27] This differs from the previous fleet, which was built to a standard British Rail design for commuter services.

The new trains have an articulated four-car design, compared to the previous three-car units, with a significantly increased overall capacity and faster acceleration and deceleration, which gives reduced journey times. A combination of reduced weight of 99 tonnes, representing a 5.5 tonne weight reduction, and more efficient electrical systems will give a 20% reduction in energy use.

The trains are flexible, being capable of operating on a combination of any of 750 V DC third rail, 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead wires, or full battery operation using a five-tonne battery, provided they have the correct equipment installed, giving operation beyond the current network.[28] As of April 2021, all trains are only equipped for 750 V DC third rail operation, along with a smaller battery for depot shunting.[29]

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers opposed driver-only operation on the new fleet, which they said would put passenger safety and security at risk.[30] Following a period of strike action, an agreement was reached to guarantee a guard on every train.[31]

Merseytravel has an option for a further 60 Class 777 units as part of the contract, which if exercised would see a total of 113 trains built if services are extended to new destinations such as Helsby, Skelmersdale or Wrexham.[26] The deal also involves the transfer of 155 of Merseyrail's maintenance workers and the operation of its maintenance depot at Kirkdale to Stadler Rail Service.[32] The transfer of Kirkdale depot and Merseyrail engineering personnel took place in October 2017, as construction work to modernise the depot, which is the planned maintenance hub for the Class 777s, commenced.[33]

The first Class 777 unit entered into service on the Northern Line on 23 January 2023.[34][35] Initially they were being used on the Kirkby route, followed by the Ormskirk route.[36] The trains were introduced to the Wirral Line, Ormskirk and Southport routes in late 2023.[36]

Class 777 battery trains[edit]

The Class 777 trains are capable of being propelled via onboard battery sets. The battery set per car can be up to 5 tonnes in weight. The batteries can be charged via a rail terminal charger and while operating on electrified tracks.[26] When the Headbolt Lane extension was unveiled to the public, it was also announced that the original order of 52 units was increased to 53 to allow for some units to undergo battery trials.[37]

Following on from the trial, it was announced in July 2021 that the units tested had been able to travel up to 20 miles (32 km) without the need for recharging. The battery-powered trains run to Headbolt Lane station in Kirkby.[38] The technology opens up the possibility of the trains serving routes to destinations such as Wrexham, Preston, Wigan and Warrington.

Class Image Type Top speed Number Carriages Routes operated Built In service
 mph   km/h 
507 EMU 75 120 9[39] 3 1978–1980 1978–present
777 METRO EMU
BEMU 		53 (38 units accepted for service[40]) 4 2018–2021 2023–present

Past fleet[edit]

A Class 503 train on the Loop (Wirral) line. This train was one of the original batch built by the LMS in 1938

The original service on the Merseyrail lines was provided by Class 502s on the Northern Line and Class 503s on the Wirral Line. The former was withdrawn by 1980 and the latter by 1985.[45]

Introduced from 1978 and 1979 respectively were 33 Class 507 and 43 Class 508 trains. Since the 1990s, fifteen Class 508s have been withdrawn as surplus and have later transferred to other operators with 12 units being transferred to Connex South Eastern and 3 units being transferred to Silverlink, with three Class 507 and 508 units, including unit 507006 after a crash at Kirkby in March 2021,[46] written off following accidents. In 2022, further withdrawals of the trains began, having been replaced by Class 777s.

The following table shows trains withdrawn since 2022.

Class Image Type Top speed Carriages Number Routes operated Built Withdrawn
 mph   km/h 
507 EMU 75 120 3 18[citation needed] 1978–1980 2022-2023
508 EMU 75 120 3 27[citation needed] 1979–1980 2022[citation needed]-16 January 2024[47]

Depots[edit]

A blue and grey maintenance vehicle stands at James Street underground station
Modern departmental MPV at James Street – Unlike the London Underground and Tyne and Wear Metro, Merseyrail's track maintenance is the responsibility of Network Rail.

The electric fleet is maintained and stabled at Stadler's maintenance depot and United Kingdom headquarters at Kirkdale and Birkenhead North TMD.[48] Minor repair work and train cleaning is undertaken at Kirkdale, while overhauls are completed at Birkenhead. The roles will be reversed once the Class 777 trains fully replace the existing fleet.[49] Other depots at Hall Road and Birkenhead Central were closed in 1997, and the former was demolished in April 2009.[50] The Birkenhead Central depot is proposed for reopening.[51]

There are also two depots near Southport station: Southport Wall Sidings and Southport Carriage Holding Sidings.

Franchise and concession history[edit]

As a result of the privatisation of British Rail, the Northern Line and Wirral Line were brought together as the Mersey Rail Electrics passenger franchise, being sold on 19 January 1997. Although franchises are awarded and administered on a national level (initially through various independent bodies, and later the Department of Transport directly), under the original privatisation legislation of 1993, passenger transport executives (PTEs) were co-signatories of franchise agreements covering their areas – this role being later modified by the Railways Act 2005.[52]

The first train operating company awarded the Mersey Rail Electrics franchise contract was MTL. MTL was originally the operating arm of Merseytravel but had been privatised in 1985. The brand name Merseyrail Electrics was adopted by MTL.

The Merseyrail name became the official brand for the network in the days of British Rail, surviving several franchise holders, although the name was not used by Arriva when holding the franchise. Despite this, Merseytravel continued the Merseyrail branding at stations, allowing the name to be adopted colloquially. With acquisition by Arriva, the train operating company was rebranded Arriva Trains Merseyside from 27 April 2001. Merseyrail is referred to as "Merseyrail Electrics" by National Rail Enquiries, and as "Serco/Abellio Merseyrail" by Merseytravel.

The City Line was also privatised under the 1993 Act, but as part of a different, much larger North West Regional Railways (NWRR) franchise. Upon sale on 2 March 1997, the first train operating company awarded the NWRR franchise contract was North Western Trains (owned by Great Western Holdings). The train operating company was later bought by FirstGroup and rebranded First North Western.

The third-rail electric Northern and Wirral Lines were largely isolated from the rest of the National Rail network with no through passenger services to or from outside the third-rail Merseyrail network. A decision was to transfer the network into exclusive Merseytravel control, being removed from the national franchising system. The Secretary of State exempted the two lines from being designated as a national railway franchise under the 1993 Act.[53]

When the Mersey Rail Electrics franchise was due for renewal, coming into force on 20 July 2003, Merseytravel contracted the operation of the two lines with a concession extending for up to 25 years. The first successful bidder was Merseyrail Electrics (2002) Ltd, a joint venture between Serco and NedRailways (renamed Abellio in 2009).[52]

The City Line, which was largely diesel-operated at the time, was not included in 2003 franchise, continuing as a part of the nationally administered rail franchise system. From 11 December 2004, the NWRR franchise was merged into a new Northern franchise. The first train operating company awarded this franchise contract was Northern Rail, also owned by a Serco-NedRail (Abellio) joint venture. This franchise passed to Arriva Rail North on 1 April 2016 and then to Northern Trains on 1 March 2020.

Due to the isolation of the Northern and Wirral Lines, Merseyrail Electrics (2002) Ltd are keen to adopt vertical integration – taking responsibility for maintenance of the track from Network Rail. The current managing director of Merseyrail is Andy Heath.[54]

Performance[edit]

Operating as a self-contained network means there are relatively few problems because there is little conflict with other train operating companies. Merseyrail has publicly committed to aiming to be the best train operating company in the United Kingdom.[55][56]

In February 2010, Merseyrail was named the most reliable operator of trains in the United Kingdom, with a reliability average of 96.33% during 2009–2010, the highest ever achieved by any United Kingdom train operator.[57]

In 2023, Merseyrail was audited by the UK Government Office of Road & Rail; it found poor performance with 26.2% of trains being delayed by 4 or more minutes and a cancellation rate of 2.2%, an increase of 1.1% on the previous year.[58]

Enforcement of by-laws[edit]

Merseyrail employs a team of officers who enforce railway by-laws relating to placing feet on seats, travelling without tickets, and other kinds of anti-social behaviour. Merseyrail privately prosecutes individuals they claim are in breach of the by-laws via the single justice procedure.[59]

The enforcement of the 'feet on seat' by-law by Merseyrail was judged to be "draconian" in September 2007 by local magistrates.[60] However, Merseyrail stated that it did not want to take offenders to court, but was not allowed to fine offenders otherwise (unlike people who smoke on trains or station platforms).[61] Merseyrail claimed its stance was based on customer feedback and would reduce anti-social behaviour on the system.[62]

Accidents and incidents[edit]

On 26 October 2005, a Merseyrail Class 508 train de-railed in a tunnel on the approach to Liverpool Central underground station. All 119 passengers and train crew were evacuated safely; only the guard was injured. The cause was determined to be rail gauge spread caused by poor maintenance.[63]

On 11 January 2007, a train ran through a buffer stop at West Kirby. Two people were injured.[64]

On 30 June 2009, a train ran away at Kirkdale, running through a buffer stop and colliding with a wall. A passenger train had passed the site of the accident less than 5 seconds earlier. Merseyrail was fined £85,000 plus costs of £20,970.15 for offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.[65]

On 22 October 2011, an intoxicated teenage girl died after falling between the train and platform at James Street station. The train guard was subsequently convicted of her manslaughter by gross negligence and was jailed for five years.[66]

Main article: Kirkby train crash

On 13 March 2021, a Merseyrail Class 507 train collided with the buffer stop at Kirkby station. The cause was found to be that the driver of the train was using a mobile phone whilst driving. The distraction led him to enter the station at nearly three times the permitted speed. He was sacked and prosecuted, pleading guilty in February 2022 to a charge of endangering the safety of people on the railway.[67]

On 28 October 2022, a Merseyrail train derailed on the tracks just outside Liverpool Central underground station. The train was not in service at the time, and no one was injured.[68] In a statement released by Merseyrail it was stated a train "tripped a safety device that is designed to lead to a controlled derailment".[69]

On 5 October 2023, a Merseyrail Class 777 train crashed at Rock Ferry station after a "minor operational incident" and was taken out of service. No passengers were on board when the crash occurred and no injuries were reported.[70]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Merseyrail managed 66 stations until 5 October 2023, when Headbolt Lane opened.[1][2]
  2. ^ Chester station is owned by Network Rail and operated by Transport for Wales. Liverpool Lime Street is owned and managed by Network Rail, however Merseyrail operates the underground platforms.

References[edit]

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Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Merseyrail.
Preceded by Operator of Merseyrail franchise
2003–2028 		Incumbent
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