Merseyrail have given an update on when their new fleet of trains could arrive on the network.
It has been six years since the deal to purchase a 52-strong fleet of state-of-the-art new trains from Swiss manufacturer was finalised. Platform upgrade work began in 2019 and testing of the trains on the network got underway last year.
The project to deliver the new trains onto the tracks has been hit by numerous delays, for numerous reasons - with a significant one being the global pandemic. But with the region hopefully now moving on from covid, public transport users are hoping for some positive news about when the yellow units will arrive.
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Today (October 17) Merseyrail gave a huge update to a passenger who asked about how much longer they would be seeing the trains at a standstill in Crewe, where they are being stored.
The eager passenger said: "New Merseyrail trains seem to have been stored at Crewe forever. Do they have a date to enter service yet?"
The travel provider replied and said: "There will be a phased induction in the next few weeks starting on the Kirkby line."
In the summer, Merseyrail said they planned to have the trains in service by "Autumn".
A spokesperson for the combined authority said: “We understand and share the desire of local people to see our new, state-of-the-art trains in operation across the Merseyrail network. Although we aren’t yet able to confirm an exact start date, we expect that the fleet will begin to be phased into service by autumn of this year."
The vehicles have lots more space than the current fleet of trains and have designated bike racks. They also boast plug sockets, USB ports, live information boards and on-board Wi-Fi.
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