Merseyrail

Merseyrail

Info
Franchise(s):	Merseyrail 20. July 2003 – 2028
Main Region(s):	Merseyside
Other Region(s):	North West Cheshire, South West Lancashire
Fleet size:	59
Stations called at:	67
Stations operated:	66 (all except Chester)
Passenger km 2007/8:	341.8 million
Route km operated:	120.7
National Rail abbreviation:	ME
Parent company:	Serco-NedRailways
Web site:	www.merseyrail.org
Technical
Track length:	75 miles

Merseyrail is the name given to the electric commuter rail network, centred on Liverpool in the metropolitan county of Merseyside in England. The system has 67 stations spread across 75 miles of track, and runs underground and overground, carrying over 100,000 passengers each day.^[1] The network is one of the most heavily used railway systems in the United Kingdom, outside of London.^[2]

The network was established in the 1970s, when new tunnel sections were constructed, connecting previously unconnected railway routes.^[1] Some of the earlier plans have not been completed, due to financial constraints, although some extensions from the original system have been made, and other new works have been proposed.

The Merseyrail name became the official brand for the network in the days of British Rail, and has survived through several franchise holders, although it was not used by Arriva when it held the franchise. Merseyrail is referred to as "Merseyrail Electrics" by National Rail Enquiries, and as "Serco/Ned Railways Merseyrail" by Merseytravel.

Contents 1 The Merseyrail system 2 History 2.1 Collection of separate railways 2.2 Electrification 2.3 Creation of Merseyrail 2.4 Diesel trains serve the east of Liverpool 3 Lines 3.1 Northern Line 3.2 Wirral Line 3.3 City Line 4 Enforcement of standards 5 The franchise 6 Performance 7 Fleet 7.1 Current fleet 7.2 Former fleet 7.3 Future fleet 8 Future 8.1 Future fleet 8.1.1 Dual-voltage trains 8.1.2 Tram-trains 8.2 Electrification 8.2.1 Kirkby to Wigan 8.2.2 Ormskirk to Preston 8.2.3 Bidston to Wrexham 8.2.4 Other electrification proposals 8.3 Reopening 8.3.1 Burscough Curves 8.3.2 Edge Hill to Bootle 8.3.3 North Mersey Branch 8.3.4 Skelmersdale Branch 8.3.5 Halton Curve 8.4 Abandoned works 9 Financial performance 10 References 11 External links

The Merseyrail system

The system is one of the busiest metro-style British commuter systems outside London, transporting over 100,000 passengers a day.^[1] Train services run on two lines, the Northern Line and Wirral Line, and cover the Liverpool suburban area and greater Merseyside. The total track length is 75 miles (121 km), and there are 67 stations.

The Northern Line links Liverpool city centre with Southport, Ormskirk and Kirkby to the north, and Hunts Cross. The Wirral Line, extending under the River Mersey, links Liverpool with New Brighton, West Kirby, Chester and Ellesmere Port. The two lines are entirely electrified, using a 750 V DC third-rail.^[3]

The City Line is not part of the dedicated Merseyrail electrified system, but the term covers local services that run through Merseyside and receive funding from Merseytravel, and on which ticketing arrangements are integrated within Merseyrail. Trains on the City Line are less frequent than those on the Northern or Wirral Lines.^[1]

Frequent train services on Merseyrail lines provide for cross-city connections:

• Northern and City Line services interchange at Liverpool South Parkway and Hunts Cross in the south of the city.
• Wirral and City Lines interchange at Lime Street in the city centre.
• Northern and Wirral lines interchange at Liverpool Central and Moorfields.^[1]

History

Collection of separate railways

The three old railways that form the core of Merseyrail are the Liverpool to Southport and Ormskirk sections of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, the Mersey Railway and the Wirral Railway.^[4]

The underground sections in the centre of Liverpool and under the River Mersey to Birkenhead form the nucleus of the network. The Mersey Railway Tunnel, one of the the world's first underwater railway tunnels, was opened in 1886^[1], running from Green Lane, Birkenhead and terminating at James Street in Liverpool. This route was extended to Liverpool Central in 1890. A branch to Birkenhead Park was added in 1888 to connect with the Wirral Railway and the original line extended to Rock Ferry to connect with the Birkenhead Woodside to Chester line in 1891.^[5]

Electrification

Electrification of the separate rail systems started in 1903 with the Mersey Railway.^[1] The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway line from Liverpool Exchange to Southport was electrified in 1906. Further electrifications on the old Wirral Railway line took place in 1937 (New Brighton and West Kirby). These electrified sections were in the 1970s merged into the current Merseyrail we have today with the construction of the 'Loop' and the 'Link' tunnels.^[1]

After the formation of Merseyrail, electrified additions were: 1985 (Hooton), 1993 (Chester) and 1994 (Ellesmere Port).^[4]

Creation of Merseyrail

The creation of rail tunnels under Liverpool's city centre was one of the UK's largest railway infrastructure projects of the 1970s. The result was the single-track Loop Line, plus the Northern Line extension, allowing the reopening of the line south, initially to Garston.

Route closures that were part of the Beeching Axe in the 1960s left Liverpool with a single mainline station, Lime Street, in the city centre, and the closure of Liverpool Exchange and Liverpool Central high-level stations in Liverpool, as well as Woodside Station in Birkenhead.

To improve urban rail transport links, and to give better access to Lime Street Station from the surrounding area, two new tunnels were built under Liverpool's city centre - the Loop and the Link.

The Loop was constructed as a single track tunnel route, and trains from Wirral terminals crossed under the River Mersey and ran round the Loop in a clockwise direction, crossing back under the Mersey to the WIrral once more. Trains enter from the Mersey river tunnel to James Street, Moorfields, Lime Street, Central, back to James Street and back through the Mersey river tunnel again.^[6]

The Link is a twin-track tunnel, connecting the former three track Cheshire Lines Committee route in the south of Liverpool to the former Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway lines in the north. Two stations are on the Link tunnel: Liverpool Central and Moorfields. Moorfields replaces the former terminus at Liverpool Exchange. The Link tunnel creates one continuous line from the south of Liverpool through the city centre and out to the north, named the Northern Line.^[4]

The present twin island Northern Line platform at Liverpool Central was originally the terminus of the Wirral lines. The original tunnel between James St and Central stations has been retained to connect the Link and the Loop lines at James Street, and is used for transfers of rolling stock, but not for passenger services.^[7]

Diesel trains serve the east of Liverpool

The east of the city centre is served by diesel trains run by Northern Rail running under a badged Merseyrail logo under the name City Line. The City Line is not operationally an integrated part of the Merseyrail system and terminates at Lime Street station.^[8]

Lines

Northern Line

Services on the Northern Line operate from Hunts Cross in the south of Liverpool, via the Link tunnel through Liverpool Central and Moorfields, to Southport. Services also run from Liverpool Central to Ormskirk and Kirkby. Each route has a train every 15 minutes Monday-Saturday giving a five-minute interval between trains on the central section. Connections are available at Southport to Wigan Wallgate, at Hunts Cross to Warrington Central and Manchester Piccadilly, at Ormskirk to Preston and at Kirkby to Wigan Wallgate and Manchester Victoria.^[1]

Wirral Line

Services on the Wirral Line operate from the Loop described above through the Mersey Railway Tunnel to Hamilton Square station in Birkenhead. From there, they run either south to Hooton, where they continue to either Chester or Ellesmere Port, or west to Birkenhead North, where the line bifurcates to New Brighton and West Kirby. Connections are available at Bidston on the West Kirby branch, for the Borderlands Line to Wrexham operated by Arriva Trains Wales, at Chester to Crewe and London Euston, Wrexham and Shrewsbury, the North Wales Coast line to Llandudno and Holyhead, and Manchester via Warrington or Northwich, and at Ellesmere Port a minimal service to Warrington.^[1]

Monday-Saturday services are every 15 minutes from Liverpool to New Brighton and to West Kirby, and every 30 minutes to Chester and Ellesmere Port (Monday - Sunday). These combine to give a service every five minutes around the Loop.^[1]

City Line

This line is not part of the Merseyrail franchise and neither is it operated by electric trains. Nevertheless, the lines that form this line are sponsored by Merseytravel and - with the exception of long distance services - are branded as if they were Merseyrail services, despite being operated by Northern Rail. Broadly speaking, it includes the Liverpool to Wigan Line and the two alternative branches making up the Liverpool to Manchester Line. In 2009 the government announced that the northerly route would be electrified.^[1][9]

Enforcement of standards

Wikinews has related news: Student who put feet on chair walks free

Merseyrail employs a team of officers who enforce railway by-laws relating to placing feet on seats, travelling without tickets, and other aspects of anti-social behaviour. Merseyrail is the only UK train operator to take such a vigorous approach, a stand which Merseyrail claims has proved popular with commuters and has reduced anti-social behaviour on the system.^[10]

The enforcement of this bye-law by Merseyrail was judged to be "draconian"^[11] in September 2007; however, Merseyrail stated that they did not want to take offenders to court, but were not allowed to fine offenders otherwise (unlike people who smoke on trains or station platforms).^[12]

The franchise

Following the privatisation of the Great Britain rail network, the Merseyrail service was run first by MTL under the name Merseyrail Electrics, then Arriva Trains Merseyside, before its award to a consortium of Serco and NedRailways (a division of Nederlandse Spoorwegen) in 2003. The current franchise is contracted to the consortium for an initial 25-year period. The Merseyrail franchise, referred to officially as a "contract", is awarded by the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive rather than the Department for Transport which issues all other franchises. The only other exception is the franchise for the London Overground network, awarded by Transport for London in 2007. Merseyrail is given such exception because the franchise is self-contained and separate from the rest of the British railway network – no other services normally run over the third-rail network. As a result of this isolation, the franchise-holder is keen to adopt vertical integration – taking responsibility for maintenance of the track from Network Rail. The current Franchise Manager is Dave Davenport.^[13]

Performance

Operating as a self-contained network there are relatively few problems because of less conflict with other TOCs. Merseyrail has publicly committed to aiming to be the best train operating company in the UK.^[14][15] The latest figures released by the Office of Rail Regulation report that Merseyrail's PPM is 96.4% and the MAA is 95.1%.^[16] This makes Merseyrail the second best performing operator of the first quarter of the financial year 2009/10 - one of four TOCs to achieve over 95% PPM for the quarter.

Fleet

Current fleet

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Unit numbers	Routes operated	Built
			mph	km/h
Class 507		electric multiple unit	75	120	32	507001-021, 023-033	Northern Line Wirral Line	1978 – 1979
Class 508/1		electric multiple unit	75	120	27	508103, 104, 108, 110-112, 114, 115, 117, 120, 122-128, 130, 131, 134, 136-141, 143	Northern Line Wirral Line	1979 – 1980

Services on the Merseyrail network are operated by the 1978-built Class 507 and 1979-built Class 508 Electric multiple units. These replaced pre-war Class 502 (originally constructed by the LMS) and almost identical Class 503 Electric multiple units. There are a total of 59 trains in service on the network. Twelve 508s were transferred to Connex South Eastern in 1996, a further three were transferred to Silverlink to supplement their fleet of Class 313 electric multiple units in North London. One unit (507022) was scrapped after a collision with 507004 in 1991 and another (508118) has been withdrawn after having been gutted by fire in an arson attack.

The fleet is maintained and stabled at either Kirkdale TMD or Birkenhead North TMD, the two depots on the network. Minor repair works and stock cleaning takes place at Kirkdale, while overhauls are completed at Birkenhead. Other depots at Hall Road and Birkenhead Central have since been closed, and the former was demolished in April 2009.^[17]

The fleet was fully refurbished during 2003-05, a process involving trainsets being transported to and from Eastleigh works behind Class 67 locomotives. An assessment is currently taking place as to whether it would be viable to reopen the Birkenhead Central depot, which would increase the efficiency of Merseyrail services. The Merseyrail fleet is due for renewal in 2013.^[18]

To celebrate Liverpool's successful 2008 European Capital of Culture bid, Merseyrail named one of their train sets (508136) 'Capital of Culture'. A press ceremony took place at Kirkdale TMD where Cherie Blair, the wife of then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, named 508143 Capital of Culture. This nameplate was removed during mid-2009. In February 2008 the first of four sets in a special Capital of Culture promotional livery was released. Set no. 508134 was emblazoned in a purple livery showcasing the "creative" element of the city.^[19] Three more followed in blue "maritime", green "heritage" and red "sport" colours, but have now all been removed as of November 2009.

From July 2008, four trains are being named after true Merseyside icons following a poll in local newspaper, the Liverpool Echo. The first, named 'Red Rum', was unveiled at Southport on 14 July, 2008 by Ginger McCain. Three more have followed, named 'Bob Paisley', 'Dixie Dean' and 'John Peel'.^[20]

Former fleet

A number of Northern Rail Class 142 Diesel Multiple Units and Class 150 sets wore the Merseytravel yellow livery for several years, although they were not directly operated by Merseyrail. These have since been repainted into other liveries. Merseyrail formerly had four Class 73 electro-diesel locomotives for shunting, sandite trains, engineering works and other departmental duties; two of these had been repainted in the yellow livery of the previous franchise holder. These locomotives were sold to a preservation company in 2002.^{[citation needed]}

Future fleet

Merseyrail's fleet is to be bolstered by the arrival of three Class 508s that have recently ceased operations with London Overground. They had been deployed on the Watford DC Line since 2003 and are numbered in the range 508301-303. They will require a refurbishment to match the current standard of Merseyrail's trains. Two examples have been moved to Warrington Arpley as of 20/11/09 in readiness for acceptance at Birkenhead.

Merseyrail are also rumoured to be obtaining some or all the Class 508s withdrawn by Southeastern in December 2008.

Future

There have been various suggestions for ways to enlarge the Merseyrail network. Some would extend beyond the current area, whilst others would use former existing lines or track beds. In about 2013 the current Merseyrail fleet will need to be replaced, if trains capable of use beyond the DC network are selected as replacements then various expansions can be achieved without electrification of the entire new route.^[21]

Future fleet

The Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) for Merseyside has called for additional units to ease overcrowding on peak-time services. Southeastern has withdrawn its fleet of 508s, and London Overground are expected to withdraw their remaining sets in the near future. It would be possible to transfer these units back to Merseyside to supplement the fleet.^[22] In November 2009, the Liverpool Daily Post reported that Merseyrail is in talks to add three further trains to its fleet to boost rush-hour capacity, with rolling stock that is currently part of London Overground. Although the trains would have to be refurbished, they could be in service by mid-2010.^[23]

Dual-voltage trains

Merseyrail's fleet is due for replacement in 2013 (according to Network Rail's 2008 business plan)^[18], while the lease on the Class 507/508 fleet ends in 2014. The RUS makes note of the benefits of dual-voltage Electric multiple units, which can be utilised on both the third rail Merseyrail network and future electrified lines which are likely to use overhead wires.^[22]

Tram-trains

Network Rail have suggested that tram-trains could offer an opportunity to connect more areas of Merseyside to the rail network. Operating tram-trains would allow street running, providing an alternative route through Liverpool city centre. This could potentially relieve pressure on the busy underground section of the network. This is a long-term aspiration suggested for around 2024 and would be dependant on successful trials of the technology elsewhere on the UK rail network.^[22][24]

In August 2009, the Liverpool Daily Post reported that a new tram link to Liverpool John Lennon Airport is under consideration, which would use the existing Merseyrail northern link down to Liverpool South Parkway station, or along the City Line from Liverpool Lime Street and seamlessly transfer to a new tramway.^[25]

Electrification

Many proposals to electrify lines and add them to the existing Merseyrail service have been put forward.

Kirkby to Wigan

When the Loop and Link network was created in 1977, the Liverpool to Bolton route (at the time operated by diesel trains) was electrified as far as Kirkby. The former through service was split in two, with passengers wishing to make through journeys forced to change between diesel and electric trains at Kirkby.

In 2007 Merseytravel announced that funding had been secured to extend the electrification beyond Kirkby to a new station at Headbolt Lane to serve the extensive Tower Hill housing estate.^[26]

Extension of the electrification through to Wigan Wallgate is a long-term aspiration of Merseytravel.^[27]

Ormskirk to Preston

Electrification from Ormskirk to Preston has been considered in conjunction with the Burscough Curves reopening detailed below. It would re-establish the most direct Liverpool-Preston route and is one of Merseytravel's long-term aspirations.^[27] However in 2008 Network Rail identified that the benefit to cost ratio of the scheme was insufficient to justify pursuing this option in the near future.^[28]

Bidston to Wrexham

The Borderlands Line from Bidston to Wrexham Central is operated by Arriva Trains Wales using diesel trains. Various proposals to electrify some or all of the line exist. The most recent study, conducted by Network Rail in 2008, investigated the costs of extending the third rail electrification to Wrexham. However, when the cost was estimated at £207 million,^[29] Merseytravel announced that cheaper overhead line electrification would be considered instead. This would require the replacements for the Class 507 and 508 EMUs to be equipped with dual-voltage equipment to work on both overhead and third rail electrification.

Other electrification proposals

The following routes are included in Merseytravel's rail strategy as "long-term aspirations".^[27] No detailed analysis has been carried out into their feasibility and they are unlikely to be developed further in the near future.

• Hunts Cross to Warrington Central
• Ellesmere Port to Helsby
• The entire City Line (using 25 kV overhead)

Reopening

Burscough Curves

The Burscough Curves were short chords linking the Ormskirk to Preston Line with the Manchester to Southport Line. The last regular passenger trains ran over the curves in 1962; the tracks were subsequently lifted. The reinstatement of the Burscough Curves would allow direct Preston-Southport and Ormskirk-Southport services and provide an alternative Liverpool-Southport route. Network Rail have recommended that a strategy for the Burscough Curves be developed further.^[28]

Edge Hill to Bootle

The Canada Dock Branch line ^[30] is a line running from Edge Hill Junction in the east of the city in a long curve to Canada Dock in the north of the city. It meets Merseyrail's Northern Line at a junction between Bank Hall and Bootle Oriel Road stations. The line's last remaining passenger services were withdrawn in 1977, but the line remains busy with freight to Seaforth Container Terminal.

The line could be reopened to passengers, allowing the reopening of stations along its length: Spellow, Walton & Anfield, Breck Road, Tuebrook, Stanley and Edge Lane. The line from Edge Lane would continue through to Edge Hill station and terminate at Lime Street.

Network Rail have investigated options for the Canada Dock Branch in their Route Utilisation Strategy for Merseyside^[24] and have concluded that the expected benefits do not justify the investment in new infrastructure. However, it has been suggested that Liverpool FC could fund the reopening of this line to provide a direct link to their proposed new Stanley Park Stadium.^[31]

North Mersey Branch

The North Mersey Branch from Bootle to Aintree is currently used only by engineering trains to gain access to Merseyrail tracks, but Merseytravel have long-term goals to reopen and electrify the line.^[27] The line was considered in the Merseyside RUS and concluded that reopening could not yet be recommended. However the RUS went on to state:

The possibility of running passenger trains along the North Mersey and Bootle branches was examined by the RUS and cannot yet be recommended. However, future development and regeneration could lead to increased demand for such services. Any such passenger services would need to be implemented in a way that ensures current and future freight demand can be accommodated. There is also a possibility in the longer term of using other infrastructure, including the disused Wapping and Waterloo tunnels, to provide new journey opportunities.^[24]

Skelmersdale Branch

A reopening of a section of the Skelmersdale Branch from Upholland to Skelmersdale town centre has been proposed. This would give Skelmersdale, the second largest town in North West England without a railway service, direct access to Liverpool city centre's shopping and business districts. Network Rail have recommended that a further feasibility study into this possibility be carried out.^[24] In June 2009, the Association of Train Operating Companies, in its Connecting Communities: Expanding Access to the Rail Network report, called for funding for the reopening of the line from Ormskirk to Skelmersdale as part of a £500m scheme to open 33 stations on 14 lines closed in the Beeching Axe, including seven new parkway stations.^[32]

Halton Curve

The Halton Curve from Frodsham to Runcorn currently sees one passenger train a week, and signalling restrictions mean it is only possible for trains to use it in the northbound direction. It was threatened with closure in 2004, but has since been reprieved and it is now proposed to upgrade the line to allow a full service to operate.

Proposals for the route were included in Network Rail's Route Utilisation Strategy for Wales.^[33] An hourly service between Liverpool and Chester via the curve would be feasible if the line was upgraded.

This would improve railway connections from Chester and North Wales to Liverpool South Parkway (for Liverpool John Lennon Airport.^[34]

Abandoned works

In the 1970s, during planning work for the Merseyrail underground in Liverpool city centre, there were proposals to use parts of the Wapping Tunnel to connect Liverpool Central and Edge Hill junction, via a new station at Liverpool University. Proposals also existed to reopen and electrify the line from Hunts Cross to Gateacre and extend it to Broad Green to create a new circular service.

Parliamentary approval for the plans was obtained in 1975. During the construction of the Link tunnel south of Liverpool Central, some additional short lengths of tunnel were dug with a view to them being used to join up with the Wapping Tunnel (to allow the planned second phase to proceed without disrupting the existing train services). However, the plans were cancelled due to funding cutbacks at Merseyside County Council, who were concerned at the costs of the Loop and Link scheme which has run significantly over budget.^[35]

Following the collapse of the Merseytram scheme in 2006 proposals are being considered to reuse both tunnels.^[36] The Waterloo Tunnel is over 2 miles long and the Wapping Tunnel is 1.25 miles long, both running under Liverpool city centre.

Financial performance

Year ending	Turnover (£m)	Gross profit (£m)	Trading profit (£m)	Pre-Tax profit (£m)	Retained profit (£m)
April 2009[37]	127			9	6.5
April 2008[38]	116			9.2

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Merseyrail

• Official Website
• Travel Wise: Merseyrail

Preceded by Arriva Trains Merseyside

Operator of Merseyrail franchise 2003 - present

Incumbent

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