LIVERPOOL City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has demanded immediate improvements from Stadler regarding the performance of Merseyrail’s new Class 777 trains.
As the owner of the fleet, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) said it was “exceptionally proud”of the investment made in the 53 four-car units, but that standards on the Kirkby line, which was extended to anew terminus at Headbolt Lane in October last year, had fallen“well below”what passengers“rightly expect”.
The non-electrified extension is served by Class 777/1 units (which can run on both third rail and battery energy) running in battery mode. LCRCA said that trains had been“very unreliable”and concerns had“repeatedly been raised”by the Mayor and authority officers. Mr Rotheram sought assurances of an improvement in what it described as“a full and frank exchange of views”with Stadler’s chief executive.
LCRCA is holding discussions to identify “appropriate compensation for passengers for the disruption caused”.
Stadler said new infrastructure and software were among the challenges with the trains and it was “determined to quickly make them more reliable”, working“collaboratively and constructively with stakeholders”.