Mystery wheel problem cripples Merseyrail

Aug 23 2007 EXCLUSIVE by Larry Neild

THOUSANDS of Merseyside commuters face daily chaos from this morning as emergency train services are introduced across the Merseyrail network.

The move will see train services cut to every half an hour on both the Northern and Wirral lines, with all Wirral services terminating at James Street.

The emergency was ordered because a quarter of Merseyrail’s fleet has been forced into sidings through a mysterious problem affecting train wheels.

Until further notice all trains on the Northern and Wirral lines will operate at half-hourly intervals, and to make matters worse for Wirral commuters, the city centre loop will also not be in operation.

The blow will affect tens of thousands of passengers, though Merseyrail say they hope to be able to run extra services particularly in the 7am to 9am peak periods.

It is likely to be a number of weeks before services return to normal as experts try to unravel the reasons for the wheel problems which have already knocked out 19 of Merseyrail’s fleet of 59 three- carriage train sets.

Merseyrail last night decided on an emergency service to conserve trains as more are likely to fall victim in the coming weeks to the problem.

Services between Southport and Hunts Cross were the worst affected yesterday morning and during last night’s commuter rush.

Both Merseyrail, who are responsible for the trains, and Network Rail, who are responsible for the track, said the reason for the unusually high number of wheel faults was unknown.

A spokesman for Merseyrail said last night: “Until further notice, all Northern and Wirral line services will run as a half hourly service, and all services will be three-cars only.

“We will, wherever possible, run additional services during the peak hours. This problem has only arisen in the past few weeks and both us and Network Rail are looking for the cause. Over the last few weeks we have been experiencing unusual levels of wear on train wheels which has resulted in fewer trains than usual being available for passenger service.”

“We have been working in conjunction with Network Rail to investigate the possible causes of this problem but some reduced capacity of trains is inevitable over the next few weeks.”

Merseyrail’s own engineers are carrying out urgent tests on its fleet while Network Rail experts were examining the 70 miles of track used by Merseyrail trains. Priority is being given to places where the rails curve, and at track points.

Also coming under scrutiny is the recently replaced track beneath the streets of Liverpool city centre. Work finished in the early summer on the latest stretch of the loop line to be replaced, with the final segment due to be installed in 2009.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “Merseyrail is examining whether things are being done in any way differently and we are looking at the tracks. It is impossible to determine a cause at this moment.”

Merseyrail became aware of the problem when trains arrived at its maintenance sheds in Birkenhead and Kirkdale for routine servicing.

A large number of trains were found with unusual levels of wear on the wheels which have to be repaired on a giant lathe at Kirkdale.

As a Merseyrail spokesman said: “It is not like having a tyre changed at Kwik Fit. This is a very specialised and time consuming task, and the problem is that the failed wheels are arriving quicker than we can repair them at Kirkdale. It is highly likely that the problem will get worse before it gets better. More trains are due to be routinely serviced in the coming weeks and it is probable that a number will have the same problem.”

The spokesman added: “Over the last few weeks, Merseyrail trains have been experiencing unusual levels of wear on train wheels. Merseyrail and Network Rail are urgently investigating the possible causes of this problem.

“Unfortunately, this has caused a maintenance back-log resulting in fewer trains than usual being available for passenger service. Although our technicians are working hard to resolve this problem, some reduced capacity of trains is inevitable over the next few weeks. This will mainly affect our six-car trains in the peak which will run mostly as three-cars only.

“Merseyrail hopes to keep any reduction of train services to a minimum and would like to apologise to passengers for currently falling short of the standards that they have come to expect from us.”

Rush hour cancellations yesterday included the 09.36, 11.51 and 14.06 and 16.21 Hunts Cross to Southport trains, and the 10.43, 12.58 and 15.13 Southport to Hunts Cross services.