Liverpool, Wednesday 19 September 2018: People from across the Liverpool City Region are being invited to come and experience the new trains coming to the Merseyrail network. A realistic, full-scale mock-up of one of the train carriages will be on public view on the Wirral and in Liverpool City Centre.
The detailed and lifelike replica train is fully interactive, with working doors and an automatic sliding step which will bridge the gap between the train and platform edge, making the network more accessible to all users – including wheelchairs users. Visitors will be able to walk along the open and spacious aisles, try the new wider seats and even take a look at the state-of-the-art technology inside the driver’s cab.
Staff will be on hand to talk through the features of the new trains, designed and built by Swiss company Stadler. These features – chosen with the input and guidance of Liverpool City Region residents and rail network users – include phone charging points and bike racks.
The mock-up trains will be on display
* Pacific Road, Birkenhead, CH41 1LJ: 1-14 October, Mon-Sun 8.00 to 17.30, Tues 8.00-19.30
* Liverpool Lime Street, L1 1JD: 5-18 November, Mon-Sun 7.00 to 18.30
More information can be found at the following link: merseytravel.gov.uk/newtrains
Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor said: “It is fantastic news that our train mock-up will be heading across the water in the next two weeks and to Lime Street in November.
Before the new trains were designed and ordered, we asked the public what features they would like to see on them. We listened – and because of this – by 2020 we will see the most sophisticated trains in the country arrive on our network.
They will be more accessible, equipped with 21st century necessities such as wifi and air conditioning, and most importantly they will give our economy an annual boost worth tens of millions of pounds.
This is an exciting opportunity for people to have a sneak peek at our new trains before they arrive – and I would encourage anyone who is a regular train user – and those who aren’t – to go and have a look while they have the chance.”
Councillor Liam Robinson, transport portfolio holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said: “As the Combined Authority and Merseytravel will be buying the new trains directly, they’re going to be owned by the people of the Liverpool City Region – so it’s brilliant to be able to invite everyone along to see and experience what will be their new trains. And the term ‘mock-up’ really doesn’t do the carriage justice – the carriage is so realistic, you’ll be expecting it to start moving off the moment you get on board.”
Andy Heath, Managing Director of Merseyrail said: “The mock-up is a very realistic replica of what passengers can expect from the new state-of-the-art trains. I would encourage the public and all of our passengers to visit the mock-up so they can really appreciate the sense of space, new features and modern look and feel that we can all look forward to enjoying from 2020.”
Thomas Zweifel, programme director and deputy managing director, Stadler Rail Service UK, said: “The mock-up will whet the public’s appetite for the new trains, bringing to life some of the modern features and enabling people to experience the spacious, open environment.
With car-body assembly now underway and the new depot at Kirkdale progressing well, we are delighted that this transformational project for the Liverpool City Region is getting ever closer to fruition.”
