European Railroad Discussion > Merseyrail Weekend

For my second-to-last weekend in the UK we went to Liverpool to visit a cousin who lives on the Wirral Peninsula.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover the Merseyrail system, which I did not know much about.  For those not familiar with it, the Merseyrail system consists of 4 lines on the Wirral Peninsula operated by Class 507/508 EMUs, using third rail electrification.  The 4 lines come together into a tunnel between Birkenhead (on the peninsula) and Liverpool on the mainland, under the Mersey River.  The lines all loop through a center-city line with 3 major stations, then head back to the Peninsula.  The tunnel under the Mersey was originally built in 1886.  The center-city loop was added in the mid-1970s.  Each line runs on a 15-minute headway, so headways on the common segments are very high. 
1.  Southbound Class 508 approaching Rock Ferry Station.
2.  Northbound Class 507 approaching Rock Ferry Station.
3.  Northbound Class 507 leaving Rock Ferry Station.
 



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/16 07:24 by dwatry.

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4.  Northbound Class 508 at Port Sunlight. 
5.  Class 508 at Moorefields Station on the loop line in Liverpool.  As a one-way loop line, it is single track. 
6.  Class 508 in stabling siding at Birkenhead Central, with abandoned maintenance shed on the right. 
 

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7.  Northbound Class 508 at Birkenhead Central.
8.  Southbound Class 507 at Birkenhead Central, emerging from tunnel from LIverpool.
9.  Birkenhead Central Station, with old Mersey Railway billboard ads still on building (presumably maintained as a historic artifact).
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/16 07:21 by dwatry.

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10.  Northbound Class 507 at Birkenhead North.
11.  Northbound Class 507 at Birkenhead North.
12.  Class 507s pass at Birkenhead North.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/16 07:22 by dwatry.

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dwatry Wrote:
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> 10.  Northbound Class 507 at Birkenhead North.
> 11.  Northbound Class 507 at Birkenhead North.
> 12.  Class 507s pass at Birkenhead North.
>  

What a fun system Merseyrail is to ride!
Andy

TheInstigator Wrote:
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> dwatry Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
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> > 10.  Northbound Class 507 at Birkenhead North.
> > 11.  Northbound Class 507 at Birkenhead North.
> > 12.  Class 507s pass at Birkenhead North.
> >  
>
> What a fun system Merseyrail is to ride!
> Andy

For sure! My dad rode the buses to Paul and John's houses then ate at Penny Lane. We ended up getting rained on pretty good waiting on the bus on Menlove. We then rode the buses to the Merseyrail station and rode out to New Brighton. Even though it was night it was a really pleasant ride and almost soothing drying out on the train.

Jim

Andy - yes, it is a little short on rolling stock variety. 

I have never used this system but I understand that it is considered one of the better of the UK u-bahn type operations.  Thanks for the photos.