British Rail Class 507

British Rail Class 507
Pioneer set no. 507001 at Hunts Cross illustrated in the new post-refurbishment Merseyrail livery.
Interior of a Merseyrail Class 507
In service	1978 - Current
Manufacturer	BREL York
Family name	BREL 1972 "PEP"
Entered service	1 November 1978
Refurbished	32 Merseyrail sets 2002 - 2005 Alstom Eastleigh Works
Number built	33 trainsets
Number scrapped	1 trainsets
Formation	3 cars per trainset
Capacity	234 seats (as-built) 222 seats (modified) 192 seats (refurbished)
Operators	Merseyrail
Depots	Kirkdale TMD Birkenhead North TMD
Lines served	Northern Line Wirral Line
Specifications
Car length	19.8 m (65 ft)
Width	2.82 m (9.3 ft)
Height	3.58 m (11.7 ft)
Maximum speed	75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight	104.5 tonnes (102.8 long tons)
Traction system	8 x GEC G310AZ of 82kw (110hp)
Power output	656 kW (880 hp)
Electric system(s)	750 V DC 3rd rail
Braking system(s)	Electro-pneumatic disc and rheostatic
Multiple working	within class and Class 508
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Standard gauge

British Rail Class 507 electric multiple units were built by BREL at York works in two batches from 1978 to 1980, 30 from September 1978 to mid-1979 and three in 1980. They were the second variety of British Rail's standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs derived from PEP stock, which eventually encompassed 755 vehicles and five Classes (Class 313/314/315/507/508). The 507s were the first variant to be 750V DC third rail only. They have worked on the Merseyrail network from new, and continue to do so, refurbished by Alstom's Eastleigh Works.

History

With the Class 502 units life-expired, unable to cope with the demands of the new "Link" tunnel and approaching 40 years old, by 1977 a replacement was sought. Owing to the success of the Class 313 fleet on suburban services from King's Cross, four sets were temporarily transferred to Merseyside and based at Hall Road TMD. Sets 313003/005/013/063 were used for over hundreds miles of extensive testing on the Southport, Ormskirk and Kirkby-Garston lines. The results showed that a similar version would be suitable for the Merseyrail Northern Line.

Initially, 47 sets were ordered (507001-507047) but cost issues forced this number to be reduced to 38 units, then 30 by early 1978 when the first sets were under construction. Ultimately, 33 units were built between 1978 and October 1979.

On 25 October 1978, a Class 507 conveyed the HM the Queen and several other VIPs on a special service between Moorfields and Kirkby. Following the journey, she declared the new-look Merseyrail network officially open. The first passenger working occurred on 1 November 1978 with 507001 working the 0739 Southport-Liverpool Central with a commemorative headboard. It worked between Liverpool and Southport for the remainder of the day, while 507002 operated between Liverpool and Ormskirk. Further 507s steadily entered service and the 502s were in turn withdrawn. By mid-1980, Northern Line services were entirely in the hands of the 507s.

Following privatisation, the 507s were used interchangeably between both the Northern Line and the Wirral Line, working a further four routes regularly. A host of new liveries appeared following sectorisation of British Rail. The remaining 32 units were refurbished by Alstom Eastleigh during 2002-2005. They received a new interiors, CCTV, light clusters and dot matrix displays. Unit 507033 was the last Merseyside set to be refurbished, entering service having been named "Cllr George Howard" in August 2005.

Incidents

507022 was destroyed as a result of a serious collision with 507004 at Kirkdale TMD in 1991. Driving motor 64388 is now in 507004, as the latter's was damaged beyond repair, and the other motor carriage, renumbered, is in Glasgow-based 314203. To date, this is the only withdrawn Class 507 set.

Two other collisions at Kirkdale depot have resulted in Class 507s formed as hybrid sets. In 1982, 507011 and 507027 were severely damaged (one leading car each); carriage 64415 from 507011 was attached to the rest of 507027 as a result. The second occurred in 1987, involving 507010 and 507014. Again, driving carriages of both were damaged to the extent a hybrid set was temporarily formed.

An arson attack at Rock Ferry in 2001 caused a third hybrid set to occur. Sets 507023 and 508130 had different carriages burnt out and had to be repaired, leaving the remaining coaches to be formed while repairs took place.

Collisions with buffer stops at terminal stations have also occurred. Sets 507029 and 507032 both received damage due to overrunning at Kirkby in 1991 and 1997 respectively. Set 507019 was involved in a collision at West Kirby on 11 January 2007 and carriage 64423 had to be sent to Crewe Works for repair.

On 30 June 2009 unit 507002 without a driver rolled out of Kirkdale TMD, derailing at a set of points further down. The incident, which caused disruption to many services, was caused by leaving the train in gear whilst maintenance was performed, so that when isolating wooden paddles were removed from between the conductor rail and pick-up shoes, the train moved off without a driver on board. On 23 May 2011, it was announced by the Office of Rail Regulation that Merseyrail were fined £85,000 and ordered to pay legal costs of £20,970.15 due to the breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 leading to this incident.

Description

507s are formed of three cars, and numbered 507001 to 507033. Original plans were drawn up for 47; later 38 507s to be built, but costs enforced a reduction in the number. Sets are made up of two driving motor cars ('A' DMSO with the compressor; 'B' BDMSO with the battery) and a trailer. Car numbering is as follows:

• 64367-64399 - DMSO (Driving Motor Second Open)
• 71342-71374 - TSO (Trailer Second Open)
• 64405-64437 - BDMSO (Battery Driving Motor Second Open)

Originally, each 3-car set seated 230 or 232 passengers, but after the introduction of high back seats during refurbishment in 2004/2005 this was reduced to 192 with space for cyclists and disabled people improved.

The 507s (and 508s) replaced LMS-designed Class 502 EMUs on the Northern Line and Class 503 EMUs on the Wirral Line.

Current operations

From new, all 507s have worked the Merseyrail network. Sets have been used interchangeably between the Northern Line and the Wirral Line since 1997, so work the following:

• Southport - Hunts Cross line
• Ormskirk line
• Kirkby line
• New Brighton line
• West Kirby line
• Chester line
• Ellesmere Port line

Class	Operator	No. Built	No. in service	Year Built	Cars per Set	Unit nos.
Class 507	Merseyrail South West Trains	33	32	1978–1980	3	507001 - 507021 507023 - 507033, 507034 - 507047

Plans for replacement

507004 and 507011 in BR blue and grey with Merseyrail logo, seen at Freshfield in 1986.

It was expected by Merseyrail that the 507s and 508s would be withdrawn around 2014 and replaced by a new EMU, but this has been postponed following the latest refurbishment. On 14 May 2012, Merseytravel announced that it had formally begun a project for replacement of the 507s and 508s, with new trains to be expected by 2017.

Naming

• 507004 - "Bob Paisley"
• 507008 - "Harold Wilson"
• 507009 - "Dixie Dean"
• 507020 - "John Peel"
• 507021 - "Red Rum"
• 507023 - "Operations Inspector Stuart Mason"
• 507033 - "Cllr George Howard"
• 507033 - "Councillor Jack Spriggs"

See also

• Class 508
• Merseyrail