Posted 17th September 2024 | 2 Comments
Extra rolling stock costs left Merseyrail with £500k bill
The veteran Merseyrail fleet was among the oldest on National Rail, having been built by British Rail about 45 years ago, but its longevity came at a price.
A report which will be considered by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority at its meeting on Friday this week shows that keeping the fleet in service for longer than expected cost half a million pounds.
Fifty replacement Stadler Class 777s have been coming into service since the start of 2023, but the last of the older trains have only been withdrawn recently.
The Authority’s Transport Committee heard in March this year that ’the roll out had not been perfect and had taken longer than hoped; however, improvements were now evident’.
The latest report, to be considered by the LCRCA this week, says: ‘This delay attracts additional lease and maintenance costs and reduces the operational savings from the new fleet.’
The fleet had been leased from Angel Trains, but the new fleet is publicly owned.
Reader Comments:
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Charles Redman, Rugby
Um, the last remaining units are Class 507, not 508. The last 508 was withdrawn in January 2024.
Steve J Alston , Crewe
Stadler should be paying this bill. Brand new trains not fit for purpose is a clear breach of contract and the Swiss company should be getting their chequebook ready for the mess they caused.