Liverpool City Region’s new publicly owned battery powered trains are due to enter final testing shortly it has been announced.
The fleet will complete the final tests as well as driver training between Kirkby and Headbolt Lane, the new £80 million station which will open later this year.
The trains offer an 80% reduction in energy consumption and will be the first battery powered trains of their type in the country to operate in passenger service.
Liverpool City Region announced its plans for its new £500 million fleet earlier this year. The Stadler Class 777 has been specifically designed for Liverpool City Region and will be able to flex between 4-car and 8-car options. The battery technology which will power the trains will be fitted onto seven trains initially.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “This is not only a massive milestone for our area, but for the entire country, as our new publicly owned, battery powered trains enter final testing.
“Our trains will be the first of their kind in the country, fitted with pioneering battery technology that will help us to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and pave the way for a cleaner, greener, and better-connected London-style transport network. This is the gold standard of public transport – and it’s the very least that our residents deserve.
“As a Kirkby native, I’ve heard talk about a new station at Headbolt Lane for as long as I can remember. Thanks to devolution, we’ve invested £80m to turn that dream into delivery. Extending our train network is a key part of my Merseyrail for All pledge to connect previously underserved parts of our community to our rail network – bringing them closer to new opportunities and each other.”
The launch of the new trains and the technology they have could provide a springboard for extending across the rest of the Merseyrail network.
Photo Credit: Liverpool City Region
Video Credit: Stadler/Liverpool City Region
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