A full timetable is to be restored to the Merseyrail Kirkby line following a successful introduction of the new £500m train fleet – with Ormskirk coming next in time for the Grand National. Tony McDonough reports

Merseyrail says a full 15-minute service is to be restored on the Kirkby line following the introduction of the new Class 777 trains.

On January 23 the first of the £500m 52-strong train fleet, purchased by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, departed Central Station bound for Kirkby. In the weeks following a temporary timetable was introduced on the line.

However, from Monday, March 6, a full 15-minute service will be reinstated. This means all trains on the Kirkby line from this date would be Class 777s. Sunday services will continue, as usually to operate every 30-minutes. 

The focus will now shift on to the Ormskirk line, which will be the next part of the Merseyrail network to receive the new trains in time for the Aintree Grand National in April.

Kirkby will also be getting another huge leap in infrastructure when a new station at Headbolt Lane opens later this year. This will be served by battery powered class 777 trains and among the first services in the UK to use the technology. 

Further temporary timetable changes are now being made to the Ormskirk, Southport and Hunts Cross lines to assist with the phased roll out of the trains.  From Monday, March 6, there will be minor changes to support driver training:

• Ormskirk line: On Monday-Friday, three trains from Ormskirk to Liverpool Central will be cancelled (09:34, 11:04, 15:04).
• Two trains from Liverpool Central to Ormskirk will be cancelled (10:16 and 14:16). The 11:46 and 15:46 trains from Liverpool Central to Ormskirk will start at Walton rather than Liverpool Central.
• On Saturdays, four trains from Liverpool Central to Ormskirk will be cancelled (08:01, 09:31, 12:01, 13:31), and four trains from Ormskirk to Liverpool Central will be cancelled (08:49, 10:19, 12:49, 14:19).
• Also on Saturdays, the 11:01 and 15:01 Liverpool Central to Ormskirk services will start at Walton rather than Liverpool Central.
• There are no cancellations on Sundays.
• Southport line: On Monday-Friday, three trains from Hunts Cross to Southport will be cancelled (12:51, 15:21, 19:06). Three trains from Southport to Hunts Cross will be cancelled (14:13 17:58 20:28).
• There are no cancellations on the Southport line on Saturdays or Sundays.

Suzanne Grant, commercial director at Merseyrail, said: “The completion of the Kirkby line Class 777 roll out is a really significant moment. 

“As the first part of the network to go through the phased introduction, the Kirkby line has been the stage where the new trains have come into contact with passengers for the first time.

“Only so much can be learned from a test environment, so the performance of the new fleet in passenger service has been a crucial moment.

“We will now be moving the project for introduction over to the Ormskirk line. As with the Kirkby roll out, this will require a reduction in a small number of services.

“We apologise to passengers who may be affected by these changes and will aim to return to a full schedule as soon as possible.”