Class 777 trains roll-out begins on Southport-Hunts Cross line

On 11 December 2023 Mayor Steve Rotheram has announced that the Liverpool City Region’s new publicly owned trains will begin the final stage of their phased roll-out this week. From that day, the Class 777 units will gradually enter passenger service on the Southport to Hunts Cross line.

Mayor Rotheram said: “I know passengers up and down the Southport to Hunts Cross line have been patiently waiting for the rollout of our new publicly owned trains, and from this week they will be ready to welcome them onboard! We’ve invested half a billion pounds in our new fleet, which are packed with great new features like sliding step technology, free phone charging and Wi-Fi and more room for bikes and wheelchairs - enabling more people to travel around our region. This investment shows the difference devolution makes. We’re charting our own course, putting the public back into public transport and delivering the services that our 1.6 million residents deserve."

As was the case with previous launches, the number of new trains in service will grow over the next few months. The Southport to Hunts Cross line is the latest section of the Merseyrail network to benefit from the introduction of new trains following the Wirral Line and the Kirkby and Ormskirk branches of the Northern Line earlier this year.

October saw the opening of the brand new 80 million GBP station at Headbolt Lane, served by BEMUs. The project is just one of those being delivered as part of Merseyrail For All, Mayor Rotheram’s commitment to expanding the regional rail network by connecting to new and previously under-served communities.