Merseyrail Underground Thread - Page 4

Martin S · September 26th, 2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nacho

Martin,what headway has the city loop got?

When the system was first opened, the headway for the Loop line was under two minutes, which would allow a minimum of 30 trains per hour and would be comparable with any rapid transit system.

Currently, there are 12 trains per hour off-peak and 16 during peak periods (due to the introduction of a 15 minute interval service on the Ellesmere Port and Chester branches). If the plans for the electrification of the Bidston to Woodchurch branches goes ahead, that would introduce a further two trains per hour based on the planned 30 minute interval service.

The resignalling carried out in the 1990s was designed to allow a five minute interval service on each branch of Merseyrail, but I doubt that the Loop signalling could cope with all connected branches having such a frequent service.

By the way, thanks for posting the videos. I can't see them at the moment as my work computer doesn't allow connections to YouTube but I have a look at the weekend.

Blabber

Thanks for the info on Seville. Shows the sort of system we should be aiming for.

Nacho · September 26th, 2007, 06:34 PM

Thanks for the information.

Blabber II · September 30th, 2007, 01:11 PM

The escalators down into the depths if Lime St underground station..

Train leaving Hooton station towards Liverpool. For some reason they have removed the 'M' from a lot of the rolling stock. Perhaps changes to the livery are proposed.

Awayo · September 30th, 2007, 02:44 PM

Good pics.

That missing 'M' thing has been baffling me as well.

I think it's just that the transfers they used were crap and have been washed off.

Nacho · October 1st, 2007, 08:02 PM

Thanks for the pics.

Martin S · October 3rd, 2007, 09:57 AM

Great pics Blabber. I don't think there is anything in the fading of the M signs. They still use that logo in all publicity and M serves the purpose of standing for both Merseyrail and Metro (West Yorkshire Metro uses a similar logo). Probably, as Awayo says just poor quality transfers.

Hopefully before long we will see some refurbishment of the underground station interiors and they will replace that yellow cladding to the escalators and passageways, which was chosen following a cost-cutting exercise.

Zim Flyer · October 3rd, 2007, 10:54 AM

This is a great thread, I had no idea about this system, it rocks. I'm so impressed and is a real hidden gem of a local transport system. Sadly I bet there are lots of people like me outside of Liverpool who don't realise it exists.

Here is a question, who owns the track and station infrastructure, is it Merseyrail or Network Rail?

Martin S · October 3rd, 2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zim Flyer

This is a great thread, I had no idea about this system, it rocks. I'm so impressed and is a real hidden gem of a local transport system. Sadly I bet there are lots of people like me outside of Liverpool who don't realise it exists.

Here is a question, who owns the track and station infrastructure, is it Merseyrail or Network Rail?

Track and station infrastructure is owned by Network Rail. Merseytravel have attempted to gain control of these assets so that they will have the first call on maintenance resources etc but the DfT is resistant. If Merseyrail could manage the track and trains, that would put the system in line with other underground systems such as London Underground of the Tyne and Wear Metro.

The Merseyrail routes are almost entirely independent of the national rail network and so could, in theory, be detached.

Blabber II · October 3rd, 2007, 07:57 PM

Here's a copy of the "Rail" Appendix to the Merseyside Local Transport Plan (2006-2011). It's a good quality document full of info on the network, the trains, and potential future developments.

There's a very interesting "Future Network" plan at page 90.

http://www.letstravelwise.org/upload...al_Mar_07).pdf

Zim Flyer · October 3rd, 2007, 10:43 PM

cheers for that Martin and Blabs. It makes sense to let Merseyrail Run and own it's own system infrastructure.

I don't know how transport works in Liverpool but I've just been in Blackpool for a week and all the buses are run by the Blackpool Transport Corporation and they run in conjunction with the Trams so it all works really well and is very co ordinated.

I don't know who runs Liverpool's buses but there is a great case to be made to let the same body run all of Liverpool's Public Transport in one cordinated scheme including hopefully one day Merseytram.

Nacho · October 4th, 2007, 12:27 PM

Martin,how many people use the system each year?

Blabber II · October 4th, 2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nacho

Martin,how many people use the system each year?

It was 34.1 million in 2006. But this is forecast to grow to nearly 37 million in 2010/2011.

Nacho · October 5th, 2007, 01:25 PM

Thanks for that .

Blabber II · October 6th, 2007, 06:56 PM

An old piccie (1982)...

And some newens...

Martin S · October 6th, 2007, 08:43 PM

Great photos Blabs. I remember those old 503 units, which must have done some forty years in service when finally retired. They were unique to the Merseyrail system although they ran on then completely separate parts of the network, the electrified lines out of Exchange (to Southport and Ormskirk) and the underground route from Liverpool Central to the Wirral.

Apparently, the older units were built as part of an order from the Polish railways, which was cancelled when Germany invaded in 1939. They were re-bodied for British operation and gave over forty years service. There was a later build in the fifties.

The 507 and 508 units were initially built for the Southern Region of British Rail and started their life on London commuter services. (As four coach sets - as Merseyrail only wanted three coaches, the fourth coach in every unit was left in London and can still be seen looking rather odd marshalled into larger size trains on the commuter lines into Waterloo).

The present trains will come to the end of their working lives early next decade and it is to be hoped that whatever replaces them will have the radial steering wheelsets that are required for low maintenance running on the Loop Line. Many of the problems with wheel and rail wear which have bedevilled the network have arisen because of the use of rigid wheelbase bogies.

Blabber II · October 6th, 2007, 09:42 PM

Thanks for the info Martin.

Martin S · October 8th, 2007, 02:13 PM

A word of warning. When I took the photographs inside Merseyrail stations, I set up my camera and tripod and nobody complained. Yesterday, I was on Lime Street high level station and saw someone being told off for taking photographs. On Saturday, I took a photo in the new Paradise Street bus station (not actually of the station, just making use of the location) and was told that I wasn't allowed to. Seems like they are really cracking down on photography - for what reason, I don't know.

Blabber II · October 8th, 2007, 02:24 PM

I'll bear that in mind; I'm planning a photo reccy of Merseyrail (and Lpool generally) not long from now so I'll make sure to be swift with my camera.

I think it's down to the whole terrorism nonsense. The same happened to me in the London Docklands about 7 months ago. A security guard said I wasn't allowed to take pictures of the buildings. I can see the same logic being applied to transport interchanges everywhere (especially after what happened in Glasgow.) I've heard about it happening at various railway stations as well, but I think it can also depend on how mean-spirited the staff happen to be in a particular place.

Oh btw, I have discovered what appears to be the only retailer in the world selling the Merseyrail Electrics book. It is Ian Allen or something. So that's next on my list, cheers!

Blabber II · October 15th, 2007, 04:18 PM

Found this on youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix885...et%20Liverpool

Nacho · October 16th, 2007, 12:29 PM

Thanks for that Blabber.Very nice...even the sound is good too.....notice the birds twitering beforehand.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

September 26th, 2007, 06:34 PM	#62
Nacho Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,674 Likes (Received): 5	Thanks for the information.

September 30th, 2007, 01:11 PM	#63
Blabber II Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 639 Likes (Received): 0	The escalators down into the depths if Lime St underground station.. Train leaving Hooton station towards Liverpool. For some reason they have removed the 'M' from a lot of the rolling stock. Perhaps changes to the livery are proposed.

September 30th, 2007, 02:44 PM	#64
Awayo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Hrafenmeles Posts: 14,005 Likes (Received): 111	Good pics. That missing 'M' thing has been baffling me as well. I think it's just that the transfers they used were crap and have been washed off.

October 1st, 2007, 08:02 PM	#65
Nacho Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,674 Likes (Received): 5	Thanks for the pics.

October 3rd, 2007, 09:57 AM	#66
Martin S LIVERPOOL England Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 6,523 Likes (Received): 47	Great pics Blabber. I don't think there is anything in the fading of the M signs. They still use that logo in all publicity and M serves the purpose of standing for both Merseyrail and Metro (West Yorkshire Metro uses a similar logo). Probably, as Awayo says just poor quality transfers. Hopefully before long we will see some refurbishment of the underground station interiors and they will replace that yellow cladding to the escalators and passageways, which was chosen following a cost-cutting exercise.

October 3rd, 2007, 10:54 AM	#67
Zim Flyer Rock Lord Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Blackpool Posts: 12,920 Likes (Received): 4	This is a great thread, I had no idea about this system, it rocks. I'm so impressed and is a real hidden gem of a local transport system. Sadly I bet there are lots of people like me outside of Liverpool who don't realise it exists. Here is a question, who owns the track and station infrastructure, is it Merseyrail or Network Rail?

October 3rd, 2007, 07:57 PM	#69
Blabber II Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 639 Likes (Received): 0	Here's a copy of the "Rail" Appendix to the Merseyside Local Transport Plan (2006-2011). It's a good quality document full of info on the network, the trains, and potential future developments. There's a very interesting "Future Network" plan at page 90. http://www.letstravelwise.org/upload...al_Mar_07).pdf

October 3rd, 2007, 10:43 PM	#70
Zim Flyer Rock Lord Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Blackpool Posts: 12,920 Likes (Received): 4	cheers for that Martin and Blabs. It makes sense to let Merseyrail Run and own it's own system infrastructure. I don't know how transport works in Liverpool but I've just been in Blackpool for a week and all the buses are run by the Blackpool Transport Corporation and they run in conjunction with the Trams so it all works really well and is very co ordinated. I don't know who runs Liverpool's buses but there is a great case to be made to let the same body run all of Liverpool's Public Transport in one cordinated scheme including hopefully one day Merseytram.

October 4th, 2007, 12:27 PM	#71
Nacho Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,674 Likes (Received): 5	Martin,how many people use the system each year?

October 5th, 2007, 01:25 PM	#73
Nacho Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,674 Likes (Received): 5	Thanks for that .

October 6th, 2007, 06:56 PM	#74
Blabber II Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 639 Likes (Received): 0	An old piccie (1982)... And some newens...

October 6th, 2007, 08:43 PM	#75
Martin S LIVERPOOL England Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 6,523 Likes (Received): 47	Great photos Blabs. I remember those old 503 units, which must have done some forty years in service when finally retired. They were unique to the Merseyrail system although they ran on then completely separate parts of the network, the electrified lines out of Exchange (to Southport and Ormskirk) and the underground route from Liverpool Central to the Wirral. Apparently, the older units were built as part of an order from the Polish railways, which was cancelled when Germany invaded in 1939. They were re-bodied for British operation and gave over forty years service. There was a later build in the fifties. The 507 and 508 units were initially built for the Southern Region of British Rail and started their life on London commuter services. (As four coach sets - as Merseyrail only wanted three coaches, the fourth coach in every unit was left in London and can still be seen looking rather odd marshalled into larger size trains on the commuter lines into Waterloo). The present trains will come to the end of their working lives early next decade and it is to be hoped that whatever replaces them will have the radial steering wheelsets that are required for low maintenance running on the Loop Line. Many of the problems with wheel and rail wear which have bedevilled the network have arisen because of the use of rigid wheelbase bogies.

October 6th, 2007, 09:42 PM	#76
Blabber II Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 639 Likes (Received): 0	Thanks for the info Martin.

October 8th, 2007, 02:13 PM	#77
Martin S LIVERPOOL England Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 6,523 Likes (Received): 47	A word of warning. When I took the photographs inside Merseyrail stations, I set up my camera and tripod and nobody complained. Yesterday, I was on Lime Street high level station and saw someone being told off for taking photographs. On Saturday, I took a photo in the new Paradise Street bus station (not actually of the station, just making use of the location) and was told that I wasn't allowed to. Seems like they are really cracking down on photography - for what reason, I don't know.

October 8th, 2007, 02:24 PM	#78
Blabber II Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 639 Likes (Received): 0	I'll bear that in mind; I'm planning a photo reccy of Merseyrail (and Lpool generally) not long from now so I'll make sure to be swift with my camera. I think it's down to the whole terrorism nonsense. The same happened to me in the London Docklands about 7 months ago. A security guard said I wasn't allowed to take pictures of the buildings. I can see the same logic being applied to transport interchanges everywhere (especially after what happened in Glasgow.) I've heard about it happening at various railway stations as well, but I think it can also depend on how mean-spirited the staff happen to be in a particular place. Oh btw, I have discovered what appears to be the only retailer in the world selling the Merseyrail Electrics book. It is Ian Allen or something. So that's next on my list, cheers!

October 15th, 2007, 04:18 PM	#79
Blabber II Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 639 Likes (Received): 0	Found this on youtube... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix885...et%20Liverpool

October 16th, 2007, 12:29 PM	#80
Nacho Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,674 Likes (Received): 5	Thanks for that Blabber.Very nice...even the sound is good too.....notice the birds twitering beforehand.