VISITORS who visited the mock-up of Merseyrail’s new Class 777 EMU earlier this year have given some positive feedback to the features of the full-sized model.

Nearly 50% of those who viewed the replica said the design of the train would persuade them to use the Merseyrail network.

An order worth £460million for 52 four-car dual-voltage articulated train sets was placed with Stadler in December 2016 as a replacement for the Class 507/508 fleet, which is now 40 years old.

There is an option for a further 15 units, and one unit will be fitted with batteries as part of an energy storage trial.

The trains will also be capable of 25kV operations, and are expected to be tested and approved in the same way the Class 707s were for South West Trains, but won’t be fitted with pantographs for normal service.

Approval for 25kV provides options to extend Merseyrail services in the future.

Read more in the January 2019 issue of The RM – on sale now!

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