British Rail Class 507 Explained

Background:	FFFF00
British Rail Class 507
Interiorimage:	Interior of Merseyrail British Rail Class 507.jpg
Interiorcaption:	The interior of a refurbished Class 507 unit
Service:	1 November 1978present
Manufacturer:	British Rail Engineering Limited
Factory:	Holgate Road Works, York
Family:	BREL 1972
Yearconstruction:	1978–1980
Refurbishment:	2002–2005
Yearscrapped:	2023-present
Numberbuilt:	33
Numberservice:	9
Numberscrapped:	24
Successor:	Class 777
Fleetnumbers:	507001–507033
Owner:	Angel Trains^[1]
Operator:	Merseyrail
Carbody:	Steel underframe and body frame,
Height:	3.582m (11.752feet)
Floorheight:	1.146m (03.76feet)
Doors:	Double-leaf pocket sliding,
Wheelbase:	Over bogie centres: 14.17NaN
Maxspeed:	75round=5NaNround=5
Traction Motors:	8 × GEC G310AZ
Poweroutput:	880hp
Hvac:	Electric heating (ducted warm air)
Electricsystem:	600–750 V DC third rail
Collectionmethod:	Contact shoe
Uicclass:	Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
Bogies:	BREL BX1
Minimum Curve:	3.5chain
Brakes:	Electro-pneumatic (disc)
Multipleworking:	Within class,
Notes:	Specifications as at August 1982^[2] except where otherwise noted.

The British Rail Class 507 is a type of electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train built by British Rail Engineering Limited at Holgate Road carriage works in two batches from 1978 to 1980. They are a variant of British Rail's standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs derived from PEP stock, which eventually encompassed 755 vehicles over five classes (313, 314, 315, 507 and 508).^[3] They have worked on the Merseyrail network from new and continue to do so, having been refurbished by Alstom's Eastleigh Works.

The Class 507 units are all now at least years old, and, following the withdrawal of the Class 313 fleet in 2023, are the oldest units operating on the mainline rail network in Great Britain.^[4] However, the even older 1972 Stock and 1973 Stock are still in service on London Underground's Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines.

History

With the Class 502 units life-expired, unable to cope with the demands of the new Link tunnel and approaching 40years 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 313013/063^[5] were used for clearance trials on the Southport, Ormskirk and Kirkby-Garston lines. The results showed that a similar type of stock 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 September 1978 and October 1979.The first set was delivered to Birkenhead North depot during September 1978,^[6] with the first test run taking place on 9 October 1978.

On 25 October 1978, a Royal Special involving units 507001 and 507002 conveyed 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.^[7] The first passenger working occurred on 1 November 1978, with unit 507001 working the 07:39 Southport-Liverpool Central with a commemorative headboard. It worked between Liverpool and Southport for the remainder of the day, while unit 507002 operated between Liverpool and Ormskirk. Further Class 507 units steadily entered service and the Class 502 was, in turn, withdrawn. By mid-1980, Northern Line services were entirely in the hands of the Class 507 and all of the sets were in service by October 1980. A host of new liveries appeared following sectorisation of British Rail.

Following privatisation, the Class 507 units were used interchangeably between both the Northern Line and the Wirral Line, working a further four routes regularly. The remaining 32 units were refurbished by Alstom Eastleigh during 2002–2005. They received new interiors, CCTV, light clusters dot matrix displays and the 2+3 seating was replaced with 2+2 seats.^[8] Unit 507033 was the last Merseyside set to be refurbished, entering service having been named Cllr George Howard in August 2005.^{[9] [10]}

A farewell tour for the Class 507 is planned for Summer 2024, the tour is planned to be operated using units 507001 and 507003.

Description

Class 507 units are formed of three cars, and numbered 507001 to 507033.^[11] Original plans were drawn up for 47; later 38 Class 507 units 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.

Originally, each three-car set seated 234 passengers, this figure being reduced to 222 following interior modifications during the 1990s. 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 Class 507 (and 508) replaced LMS-designed Class 502 EMUs on the Northern Line and Class 503 EMUs on the Wirral Line.

Current operations

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

Northern Line

• –Hunts Cross line
• Ormskirk line
• Kirkby line

Wirral Line

• New Brighton line
• West Kirby line
• Chester line
• Ellesmere Port line

Replacement

Merseyrail expected that the Class 507 and 508 units would be withdrawn around 2014 and replaced by a new EMU, but this was postponed following a refurbishment. In May 2012, Merseytravel announced that it had formally begun a project for replacement.^[12] The fleet received a refresh package including external re-livery, internal enhancements and engineering work.^[13]

In January 2016, Merseytravel announced the short list of companies bidding to build new trains which will replace the Class 507 and 508 on the Merseyrail network.^[14] In December 2016, Merseytravel announced that Stadler had won the £460million contract and that the new trains would be delivered from summer 2019 with all the old trains replaced by 2021. The first unit entered service late in January 2023.^[15]

Preservation

In March 2024, the Class 507 Preservation Society reached an agreement to preserve 507001^[16] after the chairman of the society bought the unit for £1 from Angel Trains.^[17] A crowdfunding campaign to raise £10,000 to move the train by road to the Nant Mawr visitor centre at the Tanat Valley Light Railway was set up by the society in May 2024.^[18]

A DMSO coach from 507028 has been placed in the new Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Training School at Aintree Fire Station.^[19]

Accidents and incidents

• Unit 507022 was written off as a result of a serious collision with unit 507004 at Kirkdale TMD on 30 September 1991.^[20] The DMSO vehicle 64388 from 507022 was used to replace the corresponding vehicle in 507004, while the BDMSO vehicle was used as a replacement for a written-off vehicle in unit 314203.
• Unit 507029 was damaged in a collision with buffer stops at Kirkby in 1991.
• Unit 507032 was damaged in a collision with buffer stops at Kirkby in 1997.
• Unit 507019 was damaged in a collision with buffer stops at West Kirby on 11 January 2007.^[21]
• On 30 June 2009, unit 507002 ran away from Kirkdale TMD under powerbut not under the control of a driver and reached an estimated speed of before being derailed at a set of points that joined the depot to the main line.^{[22] [23]} Following the derailment, the train came to rest blocking the main line at a position where a passenger-carrying train had passed only seconds before.^[24] The incident was caused by a failure by depot workers to apply to the train's brakes before isolating the train from the traction current supply when conducting diagnostic testing. When the isolation was subsequently removed, the train's traction supply was re-energised and it proceeded to move under its own power. Merseyrail pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 by failing to ensure that its workers met the required safety standards, and was ordered to pay a fine of £85,000 and legal costs of £20,970.15.^{[25] [26]}
• On 13 March 2021, unit 507006 was the lead unit of a train that overran the buffer stop and derailed at Kirkby station. Twelve people sustained minor injuries and the unit was written-off.^[27] The Rail Accident Investigation Branch found that the driver failed to apply the brakes at the appropriate time, due to being distracted.^[28]

Fleet details

Class	Operator	Qty.	Year built	Cars per unit	Unit nos.	Sources
507	Merseyrail	9	1978–1980	3	507001, 507003, 507007, 507010, 507016–507018, 507023, 507029	^[29]
	Non Railway Use	2 Vehicles			507028
	Scrapped	24			507002, 507004, 507005–507006, 507008–507009, 507011–507015, 507020–507022, 507024–507028, 507030–507033	^[30] ^[31] ^[32] ^[33] ^[34] ^[35] ^[36] ^[37] ^[38] ^[39] ^[40] ^[41] ^[42]

Vehicle numbering

Individual vehicles are numbered in the following ranges:^[43]

Liveries

Class 507 units have appeared in a number of liveries:

• British Rail blue and grey, 1978 –
• Original Merseyrail,
• Merseyrail revised, 1999–2004.
• Merseyrail refurbished, silver, with vertical curved yellow stripes at the cab ends, and yellow passenger doors.
• MerseyrailCapital of Culture, 2008–2009; four units with graphics overlaid on the Merseyrail refurbished livery.^[44]
• MerseyrailGood Communications, January 2014 onwards; six different designs on a mix of yellow and grey backgrounds.^{[45] [46]}
• Merseyrail – Liverpool Hope University, - 2024 applied to unit 507002 as promotion for Liverpool Hope University.^[47]
• Merseyrail – Heritage (BR Blue and Grey), 2023 onwards; applied to unit 507001 to celebrate 45 years of passenger service.^[48]

Named units

Named units are as follows:

• 507008 – Harold Wilson^[49] (Scrapped)
• 507009 – Dixie Dean (Scrapped)^[50]
• 507016 – Merseyrail – celebrating the first ten years 2003–2013^[51]
• 507020 – John Peel^[52] (Scrapped)
• 507026 – Councillor George Howard^[53] (Scrapped)
• 507033 – Councillor Jack Spriggs^[54] (Scrapped)

Further reading

• Book: Hilbert . M. . Merseyrail Electric . 2016 . Fonthill Media . 978-1-78155-513-2 . 931803421.
• Book: Marsden . C. J. . EMUs . Motive Power Recognition . 2 . 1982 . Ian Allan Publishing . London . 978-0-7110-1165-6 . 128–129 . 16537600.
• Book: Marsden . C. J. . Traction Recognition . 2011 . Ian Allan Publishing . Hersham . 978-0-7110-3494-5 . 266–267 . 2nd . 751525080.

Notes and References

1. Book: Sherratt . Philip . Modern Railways: Review 2023 . 2023 . Key Publishing . Stamford . 978-1-80282-569-5 . 18–19 . ROSCO Fleets.
2. Book: Vehicle Diagram Book No. 210 for Electric Multiple Units (including A.P.T.) . EA201, EH205, EI202 (in work pp. 10–11, 272–273, 388–389) . August 1982 . Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Department, British Railways Board . Derby . 25 April 2023 . 21 January 2015 . Barrowmore MRG . https://web.archive.org/web/20150121172506/http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/Diagram_Book_210_for_Issue.pdf . dead.
3. The twilight zone . . 249. November 2023. 50–53.
4. Inaugural meeting held by the Class 507 Preservation Society. Heritage News . . 252. February 2024. 33.
5. . 123. March 2012. 1750-6905.
6. Book: Maund, T. B. . Merseyrail Electrics: The Inside Story . NBC Books . 2001 . 655126526 . 82.
7. Book: The Story of Merseyrail. Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive and British Rail. December 1978. 8740619.
8. Merseyrail train refurbishment . . 1 October 2002. 1 December 2015. 12 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151212092832/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/merseyrail-train-refurbishment.html. live.
9. Merseyrail 507/508 refurbishment complete . . 45 . September 2005 . 57 .
10. Final 507 for Merseyrail . . 520 . 17 August 2005 . 46 .
11. Web site: Class 507/8 – Angel Trains . 20 June 2023 . angeltrains.co.uk.
12. Web site: Merseytravel signals go ahead for new trains . https://web.archive.org/web/20120813013837/http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/newsarticle.asp?articleid=1962&catid=1 . 17 May 2012 . 13 August 2012 . 14 May 2012. Merseytravel .
13. Web site: Best Merseyrail service for two years. 1 May 2014. Liverpool Echo. Neil. Hodgson. 2 December 2015. 3 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220507/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/merseyrail-hits-two-year-high-7057247. live.
14. Web site: Merseyrail trains bidder shortlist announced. 21 January 2016. 29 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160129135823/http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/Pages/Another-step-towards-new-Merseyrail-trains-as-bidder-shortlist-announced.aspx. live.
15. News: Live updates as first new Merseyrail train finally welcomes passengers . . 23 January 2023 . 23 January 2023 . Ellen . Kirwin . Liam . Thorp.
16. Liverpool Class 507 which carried Elizabeth II is saved. Heritage Railway. 318. 12 April 2024. 14.
17. News: Man buys 1970s train for £1 to save it from scrap . BBC News . BBC . 26 May 2024 . 26 May 2024.
18. Web site: Class 507 Crowdfunder launched . Class 507 Preservation Society . 26 May 2024 . 13 May 2024.
19. Taylor . M. . Oakford . G. . Appleton . D. . Fielding . J. . 2022-04-23 . Fire Prevention Targeting by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in UK . Fire Technology . 58 . 4 . 1827–1837 . 10.1007/s10694-022-01249-8 . 0015-2684. free .
20. Steve Knight reviews the latest Merseyrail stock news . . 160 . 30 October 1991 . 9 .
21. News: Train driver knocked out in crash. Wirral Globe. Kelly. Barker. 11 January 2007. 16 February 2016. 9 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210109012233/https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/1117836.train-driver-knocked-out-in-crash/. live.
22. News: Runaway train rolls out of Depot . 30 June 2008 . 30 June 2009 . BBC News . 9 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210109012210/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/8126325.stm . live .
23. News: Railway commuter train derails in 'handbrake' accident . 30 June 2009 . 30 June 2009 . Liverpool Echo . 9 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210109012248/https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/railway-commuter-misery-after-merseyrail-3453537 . live .
24. News: Merseyrail operator fined £85,000 for runaway train incident . Office of Rail Regulation . 23 May 2011 . 28 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607051906/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.10413 . 7 June 2011 . dead .
25. News: Runaway train costs Merseyrail £100,000 after company admits safety breaches which nearly led to disaster . Ben . Rossington . Liverpool Echo . 24 May 2011 . 28 May 2011 . 9 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210109012238/https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/runaway-train-costs-merseyrail-100000-3375601 . live .
26. Tuplin . Richard . Morrison . Brian . 30 May 2011 . Merseyrail Electrics fined over H&S issues . Railway Herald . 269 . 4 . 1751-8091 . 29 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111007190135/http://www.rharchive.info/Issue269HIGH.pdf . 7 October 2011 . dead .
27. News: Traynor . Luke . Train driver taken to hospital after derailment at Kirkby station . . 13 March 2021 . 18 March 2021.
28. Book: Rail Accident Report 07/2022: Buffer stop collision at Kirkby, Merseyside, 13 March 2021 . August 2022 . Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport . Derby . 24 April 2023.
29. Merseyrail Class 507s down to single figures as Stadler 777 takeover approaches final phase . News . . 257. July 2024. 14.
30. Pritchard. Robert. Merseyrail 507 run down continues. Rolling Stock News. . 268. June 2024. 62.
31. Russell. David. Class 507 . Units. . 336. May 2024. 25.
32. Merseyrail Class 507s head for scrap... '777s' into store. Network News. . 1003. 21 February 2024. 25.
33. Final road trip . Rail Express . Mortons Media Group . Horncastle . 306 . November 2021 . 11.
34. Merseyrail Class 777s expand operations . . 329 . October 2023 . 20.
35. Stock Update . . 1467 . June 2023. 93.
36. Stock Update. . September 2023 . 97.
37. Merseyrail stock taken for scrap . . 988. 26 July 2023 . 9.
38. Russell . David . Class 508 . Units . Rail Express . May 2023 . 324 . 21 . Mortons Media Group . Horncastle . 1362-234X.
39. Class 507 . Unit Focus . Bendall . S. . Coward . A. . Railways Illustrated . 245 . July 2023 . 20 . Mortons Media Group . Horncastle . 1479-2230.
40. Butlin. Ashley. Multiple Units. Stock Update. . 1467. 170. March 2024. 89.
41. Butlin . Ashley . Multiple Units. Stock Update. . 1477. 170. April 2024. 83.
42. Butlin. Ashley. Multiple Units . Stock Update . . 1479. 170. June 2024. 97.
43. Book: Marsden . C. J. . Traction Recognition . 2007 . 246 . Ian Allan Publishing . Hersham . 978-0-7110-3277-4 . 230804946 . 16902750M.
44. News: Trains take fast track to Capital of Culture. Wirral Globe. 25 February 2008. 16 February 2016. 20 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220080310/http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/2071749.Trains_take_fast_track_to_Capital_of_Culture/. live.
45. Web site: New Look Trains. Merseyrail. 5 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140607002137/http://www.merseyrail.org/seasonal/new-look-trains.aspx. 7 June 2014. dead.
46. Web site: Good Communications designs new-look Merseyrail trains. Prolific North. 17 February 2014 . 5 June 2014. 6 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140606211726/http://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/2014/02/good-communications-designs-new-look-merseyrail-trains/. live.
47. Beardsley. Ian. Pritchard. Robert. Two more 507s for disposal. Rolling Stock News. . 267. May 2024. 63.
48. News: White . Chloe . 1 December 2023. Merseyrail reveals celebratory heritage livery wrap for Class 507001 . RailAdvent .
49. Web site: Train named in honour of Harold Wilson. Merseytravel. 13 March 2013. 2 December 2015. 5 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151205023648/http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/Pages/Train-named-in-honour-of-Harold-Wilson.aspx. live.
50. STOCK CHANGES. . 260 . October 2023 . 63.
51. News: Merseyrail in talks over brand new train fleet. Liverpool Confidential. 8 October 2013. 2 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20141129065142/http://www.liverpoolconfidential.co.uk/News-and-Comment/Merseyrail-in-talks-over-brand-new-train-fleet. 29 November 2014. dead.
52. Bendall. Simon. Coward. Andy. Naming Update. Fleet Review. . 256. 1 June 2024. 25.
53. Naming Update . . 249. November 2023. 25.
54. Bendall. Simon. Coward. Andy. Naming Update . News. . 258. August 2024. 20.