The whole "press the button before the train stops so the doors open immediately" was something that blew my mind when I went to Vienna last year and rode the U-Bahn. I had no idea it was in some parts of the UK! Why isn't this a feature on every train ever??
@@OntarioTrafficMan Well, most of the trains in the Netherlands do in some sort. The GTW trains of private operators work the same way. NS Sprinters you usually can press once when lit green and they will open as soon as the door step folds out. Most other NS stock you can press the open button continually - even if the train is still moving - and when the driver enables door opening, they will open at once. All these tricks do save a couple of seconds :-)
Some older Paris metro trains have a mechanical system to achieve the same. In fact it's easier to release the door in advance as the door isn't pulling at the latch
What nice trains, almost can’t believe they’ve pulled it off. The look European which is a good thing, however those eco lights should have a smoother transition between light levels
Incredible to think it's almost two years since you visited Kirkdale depot (along with fellow RUclips legends GLovesTrains and Nodrog) Getting these trains into service has taken a very long time
No, Helsby 1st as the service was withdrawn with electrification as it passes through the oil refinery, the battery trains eliminates the danger from sparks, people have to drive to Helsby to catch the Manchester train where as there is trains to Wrexham.
As someone from a place where pre-pressing the button has been a feature since they switched to button operated doors in the 80s, I've always wondered why you only pressed the button when it starts beeping, now I know.
As a disabled mobility scooter user I love the thoughts that they have put into the new trains. The plate to open the door is genuinely a simple ye brilliant idea to make alighting easier. So may times the doors have closed and damaged my scooter paint work. Also the door illuminated is great. These trains are a game changer.
Is the grab-pole in the middle of the door area a potential hazard for mobility scooter users when humans are congregated around it? That would make getting on - and the manoeuvring necessary afterwards - awkward.
I wish we had these in Devon. I'm partially sighted, and It would make train travel so much easier. I wouldn't need to book assistance unless I was going to an unfamiliar station, and then it would only be to find the way out ir to underground if in London.
Nice shot of the daffodil! One point about the new trains being "4-car" is that Stadlers have short carriages, so it's only about the size of 3.2 regular carriages.
See the daffodil made me feel weirdly happy. The weather is suddenly so wet and cold and spring feels forever away that seeing the daffodil made me feel optimistic that it is coming 💐
As a Southport resident, we have been looking forward to these trains for some time. Most travel into and out of Liverpool although the airport is south of the city. I can see the door-stop board causing all sort of trouble when the school kids travel.
So the door stop thing is only whilst the train is having stand time at a terminus (as we were at Kirkby). when it's at a regular stop, you won't be able to do it ... i believe!
From the days when I was a schoolboy I vaguely recall door stop being used on London's tube trains (EHO refurbished 1938ts). This was on the door edge rubber strip. It did not last very long - possibly because too many passengers invoked it as a way to catch a train that they would otherwise have missed.
I would like to think that the consulted comittee would have addressed this potential problem. So with today's intellegent trains there is likely to be provision that when the driver has initiated the door close sequence, anyone pressing the door stop board will not have any effect. At other times it will work as designed.
It’s great to see the C19th railway spirit alive and well in David. Can we build a line across Chat Moss? Yes we can! Can we run battery 777s to Runcorn? Yes we can!
It's good. I still think electrification would be better- at least to the new Headbolt lane terminus for now- avoids having to lug the batteries around.
@@exsandgrounder Batteries also means that if there is a power problem on a section of the line, then trains can still run as long as they can pick up power on either side of the outage. Although with only 7 units having batteries - thats not that useful on the network as a whole.
its weird, because banning third rail just enourages TOCs to build cheaper diesel lines compared to third rail lines when it already exists in older railways in that area
Brilliant Geoff!!! Merseyrail Extension Plan: 1. Ellesmere Port - Warrington Bank Quay 2. Headbolt Lane - Wigan Wallgate 3. Ormskirk - Preston 4. Bidston - Wrexham I have been told that 1 full battery charge of 777140 can take the train 146km - 3 times what was predicted 😊
The Programme Director, David Powell, seems like such a nice and genuinely enthusiastic guy! We need more leaders in the train field to be like him - listening to rider's views on what trains should be like is a no brainer!!
What a friendly program manager Maybe it would be a better idea to have an intermediate lighting level, with only some of the lights on to reduce the impact on passengers of flipping on and off frequently
I find the lighting on the Class 345 Elizabeth line trains to be at a restful level, yet bright enough to be able to read a paper. 'Indirect lighting' is used on these trains. The light source is concealed, and reflected or bounced off the ceiling, resulting in a restful lighting level.
Travelled on one the other week, absolutely fantastic trains. Exactly what a modern commuter train should be - light, airy and accessible. I also think they've far better ambience and more character than a lot of other new trains on much longer routes. As for the seats, they're not the most comfortable in the world but they're only for journeys under an hour and they're better than what they're replacing, they look smart, they give plenty of personal space and they've not gone the way of Tyne and Wear or DLR with longitudinal seating. Other than a lack of toilets these appear to be the perfect commuter train.
I'm not from U.K., but I don't think I've ever seen commuter train's with bathrooms. Is that common on U.K. trains? I'm going to look out for that in the future when traveling to other countries.
@@marcusdamberger pretty common. In most normal train routes they will definitely have toilets onboard. The only trains without toilets are metro/subway styled trains such as the London Underground and the Tyne and Wear Metro.
The new (well 5 years old now!) Class 717’s on Great Northern routes in and out of Moorgate also dont have toilets, just to add some info! Their maximum journey time is 1 hour 5 minutes from Moorgate to Stevenage via Hertford North.
I love Merseyrail. Along with London Underground to me they are the only rail services in the UK that actually operate effectively and offer a proper public transport network.
I really hope they consider expansion to Wigan Wallgate, via Headbolt Lane. The connection for places like Rainford, and Orrell, and Wigan itself will really benefit the local area. Selfishly, it would also benefit people like myself. The line has one train per hour, Monday to Saturday, until 7pm, and no trains on Sundays.
Will be messy ticket-wise though as Orrell, Pemberton, and Wigan Wallgate come under Greater Manchester. As someone who lives in Pemberton, I'd be concerned about my ticket to Mánchester for work no longer being valid.
3:59 / Request to open the door before arriving -feature is a shared thing on Stadler trains! Flirt's in Switzerland, Helsinki, Oslo etc. all do the same trick.
Absolutely one of your best videos in a long while geoff! All the easter eggs were brilliant, both David and the great Northern Correspondent were incredibly entertaining and informative, and the editing exceptional! Top work!
Not sure about putting your foot on the door step to prevent the doors from closing, anyone who did that on my train would quickly find my foot kicking them off onto the platform!
I remember the prototype PEP and 508s when I lived down south, now live in Southport and witnessing the twilight years of the 508s. I/we've done Southport or Birkdale to Hunts Cross a few times, and Liverpool South Parkway, one stop from Hunts X is a regular visit for both bus connections to the airport or with rail services from Manchester or further afield. As Merseyrail's Northern Line doesn't serve Lime Street, changing at South Parkway is sometimes a better option, especially when the weather is bad.
I think it was really funny that Karl was getting excited over being able to call the doors. Here where I live (Adelaide, SA) It has been the standard on all trains and trams for years! 😆
I actually quite like the seats on these, but they definitely won't be the best on longer journeys. Would love to finally see Merseyrail to Helsby though.
Yes, you would get the train from Hunts Cross to Southport. My family used to regularly go on day trips from Cressington station to Southport - so sore bums sound to be likely. The old trains are really clunky but I'll miss the comforting, nostalgic noises they make.... "ch-chug-ch-chug, ch-chug-ch-chug".
I've travelled from Cressington (two stops from Parkway) to Southport quite often. I can't wait for the new trains (though apparently it will be at least a year), but might have to bring my own cushion.
Hello, does anyone know when the class 777s will fully replace the class 507s and 508s? Is the Wirral line fully 777s now? If not when will it be filly 777s?
But still no passenger train to Kirby Muxloe 🙂 Living here in Levin NZ,,, at the very top ( east) end of Liverpool St... with Mersey St 150m back towards town.
My very beloved Geoff Can you please speak a little bit more slowly I'm from México, I speak Spanish so I'm trying to understand what you are saying during the whole video and it's a bit difficult to me to understand English from United Kingdom. I tried the subtitles with that automatic youtube translation, but not even youtube could catch your speed 😅😅😅🤭 So even the translation can be so weird from time to time 😅 Thank you so much my dear
I'm old! I remember the first 507's going into service . The main complaint then was the hard seats compared to the outgoing 502's .. with their fully sprung horsehair sofa like seating ........ everything just repeats and repeats 😋
@@K-o-R- The issue is Notwork Rail - who've decided that even tiny extensions of 750V DC third-rail electrification is forbidden because it's slightly more dangerous than 25kV overhead and will get in the way of their "long-term" (i.e. >100 year) plans to make the entire network 25kV overhead (obviously they'll be digging out the Merseyrail tunnels to make room for the wires, not).
@@K-o-R - I'm not sure - I definitely saw an article when the then Chief Engineer of Network Rail gave a lecture saying that all future electrification would be 25kV overhead and implying that was an NR decision. That's not to say RSSB might not have made the decision and NR were going along with it, alternatively RSSB might have signed off on a decision NR had already made. Personally I think it's just daft that the Merseyrail electrification can't be extended to Helsby, Wigan and Preston and the Marshlink and Uckfield lines can't be done.
Nice trains. I guess when it was tested in Germany that was probably on the rail testtrack at Wegberg Wildenrath, a former RAF airbase close to the border with the Netherlands. If I had known that I could have taken a look there, and made some videos of the trains doing their test runs. Thanks for sharing!
3:55 The function to "pre-open" the door isnt that new in stadler-trains. in FLIRT 3 EMUs here in Germany(maybe also everywhere) is it implemented since its introduction. only the illumination is missing here
It's not Stadler-exclusive at all. In Switzerland, almost all trains since the year 2000 seem to have it and the buses and trams in some cities have it too (buses in Zurich do, but not in Schaffhausen). Similarly, the retractable steps can be found on newer trains from various manufacturers there as well.
Good to meet you and Karl, hope you got to see the Iron Men and didn't get mugged in Bootle. I've done Birkdale to Hunts Cross a few times as I work near HC station. I'd gone for a train ride to get out after working a few night shifts. Pete W.
as far back as I can remember the 507/8's had doors operated by the guard not ones you pressed a button to open. and given they aren't air conditioned it doesn't matter opening all the relevant doors at once anyway.
The 508s originally had door buttons when they were down south, but these were removed when they moved to Merseyside. Pretty sure the 507s never did. I seem to recall that perhaps the 503s may have had door buttons at one time (and the 502s didn’t), but that’s a long time ago.
As an ex southport resident, on merseyrail we used to not have to open the doors with a button, in fact it was weird to me when I moved elsewhere that this was a thing! I will definitely forget to press the button next time I am home!
If you went around the corner from Central to Parr Street Studios - thats where Coldplay wrote and recorded "Yellow", so it was fairly appropriate to end the episode
The push button to open the door before the station wasnt copied from Manchester, its been a thing on Swiss trains and trams for a long time. It's used on some lines to make a request stop. The old trams just disappearing from Zurich have it and theyve been around for a good while now. Unsurprisingly, seeing how Stadler is a Swiss company, most of what those new trains have is also found on current Swiss rolling stock, including the foot plate that stops the doors closing, the light strips round the doorways, smart information displays, the LED headlights and the rather firm seats with the molded in headrests. Now we just need to get double deck commuter trains in..... after we've widened our loading gauge and tunnel diameters.
Southport to Hunts Cross? You wont get many doing that. But Southport to Liverpool South Parkway? Most definitely. Many will do that to go the airport. But Southport to Central is 45ish mins. I sat on them when they were being shown off in Southport station last year and thought they were hard, hoping they get softer under more use! Same with the fold up, they are a little bit stiff. Low on phone data? Don't the new trains have Wifi? Though that wouldn't work well with the jokes... I do think though that the trains should be auto-open and stay open while in Central and Moorfields though. Already witnessed people running down escalators because doors are closing thinking the train is going to be leaving. Shame to hear the Southport line is last though *cries*.
It’s finally nice to see the UK, implementing features like green and red lighting around doors and level boarding to their new trains, something that mainline Europe has done for years
All the 7's, all of them (and they were all yellow)
Love it
My local is 444
Class 777 MerseyRail will have a Great Time Working on His Routes
3 of them, actually
Love your videos Geoff- keep them going!
Thank goodness there’s space to store my Geoff under the seats. They’ve really thought of everything with these trains!
But will he fit in the small overhead rack?
There's only one way to find out.... 🙂
The whole "press the button before the train stops so the doors open immediately" was something that blew my mind when I went to Vienna last year and rode the U-Bahn. I had no idea it was in some parts of the UK! Why isn't this a feature on every train ever??
The trams in Toronto have that as well and it is maddening that the trains in the Netherlands don't
Same with the new trains in Brisbane, Australia.
@@OntarioTrafficMan Well, most of the trains in the Netherlands do in some sort. The GTW trains of private operators work the same way. NS Sprinters you usually can press once when lit green and they will open as soon as the door step folds out. Most other NS stock you can press the open button continually - even if the train is still moving - and when the driver enables door opening, they will open at once. All these tricks do save a couple of seconds :-)
Some older Paris metro trains have a mechanical system to achieve the same. In fact it's easier to release the door in advance as the door isn't pulling at the latch
I was also baffled when I came down to Manchester's Metrolink and sneakily found out how it works!
What nice trains, almost can’t believe they’ve pulled it off. The look European which is a good thing, however those eco lights should have a smoother transition between light levels
Incredible to think it's almost two years since you visited Kirkdale depot (along with fellow RUclips legends GLovesTrains and Nodrog)
Getting these trains into service has taken a very long time
Expanding to the Wrexham-Bidston line should be top priority😉
No, Helsby 1st as the service was withdrawn with electrification as it passes through the oil refinery, the battery trains eliminates the danger from sparks, people have to drive to Helsby to catch the Manchester train where as there is trains to Wrexham.
Oooh I like these!
I've caught the train from Liverpool South Parkway-Southport, as it's an easier connection off LNWR's Birmingham service!
As someone from a place where pre-pressing the button has been a feature since they switched to button operated doors in the 80s, I've always wondered why you only pressed the button when it starts beeping, now I know.
Perfect timing to release this video Geoff with all the 7s and have a Mancunian on.
Do they run on Economy 7?
“We all live on a yellow 777”
It scans better if said 'We all live on a yellow triple 7'; that way the music doesn't need to be bastardised.
@@roboftherock It does! Thanks.
And no cameo from GLOVES TRAINS?
After watching this video, I checked my email, then the status of my solar panels. Apparently they were generating 777 watts.
That guy you interviwed is great. Enthussiastic about the service upgrades, but still honest and sincere.
Agreed! He was the star of the video for me!
He should be on a least used station/request stop
Yep agreed, and he told the skinny bums to beef up, if you want to travel in comfort...
Interview with David was great. Fantastic to see someone so honest, even when things aren’t quite as planned rather than hide dates away.
David is very impressive, knows how to operate a railway well.
As a disabled mobility scooter user I love the thoughts that they have put into the new trains. The plate to open the door is genuinely a simple ye brilliant idea to make alighting easier. So may times the doors have closed and damaged my scooter paint work. Also the door illuminated is great. These trains are a game changer.
Is the grab-pole in the middle of the door area a potential hazard for mobility scooter users when humans are congregated around it? That would make getting on - and the manoeuvring necessary afterwards - awkward.
@@roboftherock nope. Plenty of room.
I wish we had these in Devon. I'm partially sighted, and It would make train travel so much easier. I wouldn't need to book assistance unless I was going to an unfamiliar station, and then it would only be to find the way out ir to underground if in London.
Does Carl (The Northen Correspondent!) have a RUclips channel or a Twitter account?
A RUclips channel, yes, but I don’t post anything to it. Maybe once a year! 😃 Twitter, yes, but it’s a private account.
Long overdue having door 'advanced opening request recognition', as in Swiss railways. Very handy.
2:36 everyone waiting to leave be like 👁👄👁
This was one of recent times best of Geoff! So much fun to watch from start to end, packed with interesting stuff. Thank you
@@geofftech2 I hope and think you enjoyed it as well and that also adds a lot to it!
Nice shot of the daffodil!
One point about the new trains being "4-car" is that Stadlers have short carriages, so it's only about the size of 3.2 regular carriages.
Daffodi is yellow ?
You missed a trick Geoff, it should have been 12 minutes and 57 seconds long, OR 777 seconds ...
That’s actually a brilliant idea and I can’t believe I didn’t think of that !!! 😅
See the daffodil made me feel weirdly happy. The weather is suddenly so wet and cold and spring feels forever away that seeing the daffodil made me feel optimistic that it is coming 💐
"If you're from Manchester then you've probably had enough of Mersey 7 gags." 🤣
The blue half appreciates the joke.
It will be interesting to see a comparison with the Tyne & Wear 555s
As a Southport resident, we have been looking forward to these trains for some time. Most travel into and out of Liverpool although the airport is south of the city. I can see the door-stop board causing all sort of trouble when the school kids travel.
Oh yes. Children messing around will be a serious problem with those doors.
So the door stop thing is only whilst the train is having stand time at a terminus (as we were at Kirkby). when it's at a regular stop, you won't be able to do it ... i believe!
@@geofftech2 those who wish to remain sane and arrive on time hope!
From the days when I was a schoolboy I vaguely recall door stop being used on London's tube trains (EHO refurbished 1938ts). This was on the door edge rubber strip. It did not last very long - possibly because too many passengers invoked it as a way to catch a train that they would otherwise have missed.
I would like to think that the consulted comittee would have addressed this potential problem. So with today's intellegent trains there is likely to be provision that when the driver has initiated the door close sequence, anyone pressing the door stop board will not have any effect. At other times it will work as designed.
It’s great to see the C19th railway spirit alive and well in David. Can we build a line across Chat Moss? Yes we can!
Can we run battery 777s to Runcorn?
Yes we can!
It's good. I still think electrification would be better- at least to the new Headbolt lane terminus for now- avoids having to lug the batteries around.
I need to change the batteries. There are no more AAs in the cupboard🙄
@@exsandgrounder Batteries also means that if there is a power problem on a section of the line, then trains can still run as long as they can pick up power on either side of the outage. Although with only 7 units having batteries - thats not that useful on the network as a whole.
Pity the ORR are so against the extension of anymore 3rd rail power supply.
Yes absolutely daft.one of the.lines from redhill could be easily extended by 3rd rail..but govt says no..
its weird, because banning third rail just enourages TOCs to build cheaper diesel lines compared to third rail lines when it already exists in older railways in that area
Brilliant Geoff!!!
Merseyrail Extension Plan:
1. Ellesmere Port - Warrington Bank Quay
2. Headbolt Lane - Wigan Wallgate
3. Ormskirk - Preston
4. Bidston - Wrexham
I have been told that 1 full battery charge of 777140 can take the train 146km - 3 times what was predicted 😊
The Programme Director, David Powell, seems like such a nice and genuinely enthusiastic guy! We need more leaders in the train field to be like him - listening to rider's views on what trains should be like is a no brainer!!
0:16 OMG so happy to see him again! It’s hard to forget the style swap both of you pulled off brilliantly 😂
What a friendly program manager
Maybe it would be a better idea to have an intermediate lighting level, with only some of the lights on to reduce the impact on passengers of flipping on and off frequently
I find the lighting on the Class 345 Elizabeth line trains to be at a restful level, yet bright enough to be able to read a paper. 'Indirect lighting' is used on these trains. The light source is concealed, and reflected or bounced off the ceiling, resulting in a restful lighting level.
Travelled on one the other week, absolutely fantastic trains. Exactly what a modern commuter train should be - light, airy and accessible. I also think they've far better ambience and more character than a lot of other new trains on much longer routes. As for the seats, they're not the most comfortable in the world but they're only for journeys under an hour and they're better than what they're replacing, they look smart, they give plenty of personal space and they've not gone the way of Tyne and Wear or DLR with longitudinal seating. Other than a lack of toilets these appear to be the perfect commuter train.
I'm not from U.K., but I don't think I've ever seen commuter train's with bathrooms. Is that common on U.K. trains? I'm going to look out for that in the future when traveling to other countries.
@@marcusdamberger pretty common. In most normal train routes they will definitely have toilets onboard. The only trains without toilets are metro/subway styled trains such as the London Underground and the Tyne and Wear Metro.
The new (well 5 years old now!) Class 717’s on Great Northern routes in and out of Moorgate also dont have toilets, just to add some info! Their maximum journey time is 1 hour 5 minutes from Moorgate to Stevenage via Hertford North.
@@neeha9449Most of our commuter trains don’t actually.
I can't believe no toilets! Can't believe it!
I always feel like I’m watching the history channel and not RUclips. Geoff is great. 🇦🇺
I love Merseyrail. Along with London Underground to me they are the only rail services in the UK that actually operate effectively and offer a proper public transport network.
Definitely they put other operators to great shape. It's curious that liverpool gets both the best and the worst (northern)
Loved it. All the sevens kept popping up so I backtracked to watch again. A lot of fun and pretty trains to boot.
I really hope they consider expansion to Wigan Wallgate, via Headbolt Lane. The connection for places like Rainford, and Orrell, and Wigan itself will really benefit the local area. Selfishly, it would also benefit people like myself. The line has one train per hour, Monday to Saturday, until 7pm, and no trains on Sundays.
The joys of the truly abysmal upholland branch line
Will be messy ticket-wise though as Orrell, Pemberton, and Wigan Wallgate come under Greater Manchester. As someone who lives in Pemberton, I'd be concerned about my ticket to Mánchester for work no longer being valid.
And liverpool beating man United 7-0 to celebrate the class 777🤣🤣
3:59 / Request to open the door before arriving -feature is a shared thing on Stadler trains! Flirt's in Switzerland, Helsinki, Oslo etc. all do the same trick.
The oslo ones unfortunately dont always do since some are older, but our metros do
Specifically the stadler ones wont always do
@@tomzitiger Weird, I just came from Norway and at least on Østlandet-services they did open.
In Switzerland it's a de facto universal standard even on busses and trams (except on trains with manual door handles, goes without saying really)
@@moskari26 maybe i'm mixing it up but i took one of those trains today, i just didnt check
Absolutely one of your best videos in a long while geoff! All the easter eggs were brilliant, both David and the great Northern Correspondent were incredibly entertaining and informative, and the editing exceptional! Top work!
Can't wait for the new Tyne and Wear metros also made by stadler to start running hopefully a new Geoff video.
Another great win Geoff for Merseyside getting the 777s just like the red football team Liverpool 7-0 lol 😂
Not sure about putting your foot on the door step to prevent the doors from closing, anyone who did that on my train would quickly find my foot kicking them off onto the platform!
You published this a day early, Geoff. Should've done it tomorrow and it would've been on the 7th at 7pm
Resently saw them being build here in Berlin from the inside of an S-Bahn, can you believe it!
I wish America could have trains like this
They will never
@@TeamSenke They could
@@TeamSenke they might
I'm from the UK and I agree with you I want America to have good trains like they have in Europe
@@Baloongis2 how?
missed opportunity to release at 19:07 GMT
Ha ha!!! Brilliant 😅
I think the sheffield tram-trains 399's stole the button calling thing from metrolink and then merseyrail copied both
I remember the prototype PEP and 508s when I lived down south, now live in Southport and witnessing the twilight years of the 508s.
I/we've done Southport or Birkdale to Hunts Cross a few times, and Liverpool South Parkway, one stop from Hunts X is a regular visit for both bus connections to the airport or with rail services from Manchester or further afield. As Merseyrail's Northern Line doesn't serve Lime Street, changing at South Parkway is sometimes a better option, especially when the weather is bad.
nice daffodil shot at 00:57 in keeping with the yellow theme! 🌻 😃
this is genuinely a cinematic masterpiece
I love the attention to detail with all of the hidden 7s. Even Carl's drink at 5:40 was labelled with a 7 🤣
the 777s may be nice, but i will definetly miss the 507s and 508s
I found a camera on that very platform, think it belonged to a poncey southerner 😜😠
It is always a great Monday when the Northern Correspondent appears in a Geoff video drop!
And also good to see him giving local craft beer a plug too! All the 7s! :)
You can pre-request the doors to open in Adelaide, Australia 🇦🇺 too. The button stays green after you press it as a visual reminder.
I think it was really funny that Karl was getting excited over being able to call the doors. Here where I live (Adelaide, SA) It has been the standard on all trains and trams for years! 😆
I actually quite like the seats on these, but they definitely won't be the best on longer journeys. Would love to finally see Merseyrail to Helsby though.
Mabye next Wrexham, Preston and Wigan
Brilliant video as always. It seems nicely designed train, even the lights at the ends are in the shape of a M, very cool
Yes, you would get the train from Hunts Cross to Southport. My family used to regularly go on day trips from Cressington station to Southport - so sore bums sound to be likely.
The old trains are really clunky but I'll miss the comforting, nostalgic noises they make.... "ch-chug-ch-chug, ch-chug-ch-chug".
I've travelled from Cressington (two stops from Parkway) to Southport quite often. I can't wait for the new trains (though apparently it will be at least a year), but might have to bring my own cushion.
777 the next floor above the devil.... lol this video was rlly good and great merseyrail trains!
i like how geoff gives 7GB of data to his friend
Hello, does anyone know when the class 777s will fully replace the class 507s and 508s? Is the Wirral line fully 777s now? If not when will it be filly 777s?
You want a real Stat Trek train? Check out CAF 6000 with lateral seats. Shiit looks like a corridor set from Strange New Worlds
But still no passenger train to Kirby Muxloe 🙂
Living here in Levin NZ,,, at the very top ( east) end of Liverpool St... with Mersey St 150m back towards town.
My very beloved Geoff
Can you please speak a little bit more slowly
I'm from México, I speak Spanish so I'm trying to understand what you are saying during the whole video and it's a bit difficult to me to understand English from United Kingdom. I tried the subtitles with that automatic youtube translation, but not even youtube could catch your speed 😅😅😅🤭 So even the translation can be so weird from time to time 😅
Thank you so much my dear
So excited for these to go on the wirral line, I'm gonna miss the 507 and 508s though, they were they trains I've travelled on since I was a kid
Looks like Merseyrail and their passengers have hit the jackpot with these trains!
I'm old! I remember the first 507's going into service . The main complaint then was the hard seats compared to the outgoing 502's .. with their fully sprung horsehair
sofa like seating ........ everything just repeats and repeats 😋
It would be brilliant if they could eventually run through to Wigan Wallgate on battery power.
Or just electrify.
@@K-o-R sadly, the government seems to have an allergy to electrification, and their medicine are meaningless business cases
@@K-o-R- The issue is Notwork Rail - who've decided that even tiny extensions of 750V DC third-rail electrification is forbidden because it's slightly more dangerous than 25kV overhead and will get in the way of their "long-term" (i.e. >100 year) plans to make the entire network 25kV overhead (obviously they'll be digging out the Merseyrail tunnels to make room for the wires, not).
@@rjs_698 Is it Network Rail though? I thought it was the rail safety board or whatever they're called that won't allow more third rail.
@@K-o-R - I'm not sure - I definitely saw an article when the then Chief Engineer of Network Rail gave a lecture saying that all future electrification would be 25kV overhead and implying that was an NR decision. That's not to say RSSB might not have made the decision and NR were going along with it, alternatively RSSB might have signed off on a decision NR had already made. Personally I think it's just daft that the Merseyrail electrification can't be extended to Helsby, Wigan and Preston and the Marshlink and Uckfield lines can't be done.
Nice trains. I guess when it was tested in Germany that was probably on the rail testtrack at Wegberg Wildenrath, a former RAF airbase close to the border with the Netherlands. If I had known that I could have taken a look there, and made some videos of the trains doing their test runs. Thanks for sharing!
It's Ray from when the whistle blows !
I'm just waiting for people to start calling the 777's "Jackpots" or "Slot machines" due to their class number
Love to see you outside London. And two splendid guests too
3:55 The function to "pre-open" the door isnt that new in stadler-trains. in FLIRT 3 EMUs here in Germany(maybe also everywhere) is it implemented since its introduction. only the illumination is missing here
It's not Stadler-exclusive at all. In Switzerland, almost all trains since the year 2000 seem to have it and the buses and trams in some cities have it too (buses in Zurich do, but not in Schaffhausen). Similarly, the retractable steps can be found on newer trains from various manufacturers there as well.
I would say even earlier than the 2000s. My train do school had the same thing and was built in the 80s.
Good to meet you and Karl, hope you got to see the Iron Men and didn't get mugged in Bootle. I've done Birkdale to Hunts Cross a few times as I work near HC station. I'd gone for a train ride to get out after working a few night shifts. Pete W.
Hi Pete! Nice to meet you! 👍
Hi, nice to meet you too!
Very stylish trains. I've long been a fan of Merseyrail's network.
I can't wait for the Class 555 Tyne And Wear metros! Please ride them next year!!
11:54 I’m not surprised but you’ve pushed the envelope when it comes to casually lying on flat surfaces.
Ormskirk when new Brighton when west kirkby that’s the order of the lines where 777 will run this year
Look at the trains
Look how they drive for you
And everything you do
Yeah, they were all yellow
I love them been waiting for this vid for a bit of time and love the yellow coat
Obligatory lovely to see Karl and having him assisting with quality puns to cheer up a Monday comment.
🤗
507s never had buttons. 508s came North with them but we're plated over. Stayed like that until they were revamped and then the wedge was removed
Thanks Amanda! Good info, appreciated 👍
Blackpool trams also 'release' doors if pressed before stop - also act as a bell
as far back as I can remember the 507/8's had doors operated by the guard not ones you pressed a button to open. and given they aren't air conditioned it doesn't matter opening all the relevant doors at once anyway.
The 508s originally had door buttons when they were down south, but these were removed when they moved to Merseyside. Pretty sure the 507s never did. I seem to recall that perhaps the 503s may have had door buttons at one time (and the 502s didn’t), but that’s a long time ago.
Itching to see these on the Wirral line. Thanks for asking - sounds like this year! 👏
David Powell was a great interviewee and was very unpretentious, given how senior he is.
Another amazing video, keep it up Geoff!!👍
Nice Geoff thanks have a great week
As an ex southport resident, on merseyrail we used to not have to open the doors with a button, in fact it was weird to me when I moved elsewhere that this was a thing!
I will definitely forget to press the button next time I am home!
Pity they can't extend the Ormskirk line to Preston..
If you went around the corner from Central to Parr Street Studios - thats where Coldplay wrote and recorded "Yellow", so it was fairly appropriate to end the episode
Watched this wearing a yellow jumper
Challenge: how many 7s are there in this video?
The push button to open the door before the station wasnt copied from Manchester, its been a thing on Swiss trains and trams for a long time. It's used on some lines to make a request stop. The old trams just disappearing from Zurich have it and theyve been around for a good while now. Unsurprisingly, seeing how Stadler is a Swiss company, most of what those new trains have is also found on current Swiss rolling stock, including the foot plate that stops the doors closing, the light strips round the doorways, smart information displays, the LED headlights and the rather firm seats with the molded in headrests.
Now we just need to get double deck commuter trains in..... after we've widened our loading gauge and tunnel diameters.
Southport to Hunts Cross? You wont get many doing that.
But Southport to Liverpool South Parkway? Most definitely. Many will do that to go the airport. But Southport to Central is 45ish mins.
I sat on them when they were being shown off in Southport station last year and thought they were hard, hoping they get softer under more use! Same with the fold up, they are a little bit stiff.
Low on phone data? Don't the new trains have Wifi? Though that wouldn't work well with the jokes...
I do think though that the trains should be auto-open and stay open while in Central and Moorfields though. Already witnessed people running down escalators because doors are closing thinking the train is going to be leaving.
Shame to hear the Southport line is last though *cries*.
It’s finally nice to see the UK, implementing features like green and red lighting around doors and level boarding to their new trains, something that mainline Europe has done for years