Original Merseyrail branding.

[norbitonflyer]

Merseyrail traditionally encompassed all rail in the area including Lime St services, with Merseyrail Electrics being the third rail bit. With wires up at Lime St I guess it needed a new name

The "Merseyrail" branding originally covered all lines in Merseyside supported by the Passenger Transport Executive, including what was known as the "City Line" (services out of Lime Street High Level), of which only the line to Allerton (now Liverpool South Parkway) was electrified at the time. Some DMUs (Pacers) were given Merseyrail livery.


With franchising, the "City Line" became part of First North West and later Northern Rail, and the Merseyrail name was applied only to the separate franchise operating the DC lines.

 

[8A Rail]

The "Merseyrail" branding originally covered all lines in Merseyside supported by the Passenger Transport Executive, including what was known as the "City Line" (services out of Lime Street High Level), of which only the line to Allerton (now Liverpool South Parkway) was electrified at the time. Some DMUs (Pacers) were given Merseyrail livery.

With franchising, the "City Line" became part of First North West and later Northern Rail, and the Merseyrail name was applied only to the separate franchise operating the DC lines.

Just to clarify the original 'Merseyrail' branding, (before First WN and Northern Rail) it had 'Regional Railways' on the side of various units including Class 142, 150, 507 and 508's. Also a few Units also had 'Arriva' lettering too with the yellow / white / black livery.

 

[urbophile]

The "Merseyrail" branding originally covered all lines in Merseyside supported by the Passenger Transport Executive, including what was known as the "City Line" (services out of Lime Street High Level), of which only the line to Allerton (now Liverpool South Parkway) was electrified at the time.

Which ironically is now the only local train service (apart from Bidston - Wrexham) on Merseyside to be diesel operated.

 

[emoaconr]

Which ironically is now the only local train service (apart from Bidston - Wrexham) on Merseyside to be diesel operated.

And the Southport to Wigan via Meols Cop

 

[Ribbleman]

Which ironically is now the only local train service (apart from Bidston - Wrexham) on Merseyside to be diesel operated.

Which ironically is now the only local train service (apart from Bidston - Wrexham) on Merseyside to be diesel operated.

Just to clarify the original 'Merseyrail' branding, (before First WN and Northern Rail) it had 'Regional Railways' on the side of various units including Class 142, 150, 507 and 508's. Also a few Units also had 'Arriva' lettering too with the yellow / white / black livery.

The original Merseyrail branding was some years before the 142s and 507s, being introduced on Class 502 and Class 503s in about 1972, when Liverpool Exchange accommodated Southport and Ormskirk 502s and Liverpool Central (Low Level) was the terminus of services from West Kirby, New Brighton and Rock Ferry using 503s. Timetables and posters of that era also carried Merseyrail branding.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It wasn't until the coming of Merseyrail Electrics 2002 Ltd that the use of the Merseyrail name for the DMU services started to fade. MTL used the name Merseyrail Electrics to differentiate, then it was Arriva Trains Merseyside.

 

[507020]

The original Merseyrail branding was some years before the 142s and 507s, being introduced on Class 502 and Class 503s in about 1972, when Liverpool Exchange accommodated Southport and Ormskirk 502s and Liverpool Central (Low Level) was the terminus of services from West Kirby, New Brighton and Rock Ferry using 503s. Timetables and posters of that era also carried Merseyrail branding.

Merseyrail recently publicised that 21 October 2021 was the 50th anniversary of the new Merseyrail brand appearing on the side of Class 503 EMUs on the Wirral electric services. 502s and other publicity came later, but so soon after this anniversary, what would be the point of abandoning it in favour of METRO, other than that the new fleet is from the Stadler METRO family.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Merseyrail recently publicised that 21 October 2021 was the 50th anniversary of the new Merseyrail brand appearing on the side of Class 503 EMUs on the Wirral electric services. 502s and other publicity came later, but so soon after this anniversary, what would be the point of abandoning it in favour of METRO, other than that the new fleet is from the Stadler METRO family.

It's mostly because the Metro Mayor wants his stamp on things.

I suppose at least it is stopping them using that horrid Comic Sans-like font Merseytravel use. Never liked that. The more distinctive font used in the Merseyrail logo with the underlining looks better and was used for years.

The new logo is interesting - it kind of alludes to the old "loop line" logo by having the orbiting blobs. Saw a couple of 777s at Kirkdale today adorned with it at the vehicle ends and I thought it looked decent on those, though I mourn the passing of the "Miseryrail" brand

 

[emoaconr]

It wasn't until the coming of Merseyrail Electrics 2002 Ltd that the use of the Merseyrail name for the DMU services started to fade. MTL used the name Merseyrail Electrics to differentiate, then it was Arriva Trains Merseyside.

Arriva didn't care for a local brand. There was that turquoise livery 508...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Arriva didn't care for a local brand. There was that turquoise livery 508...

The brand Arriva Trains Merseyside was used, and the units had Arriva logos on them. The colour scheme was Merseytravel's, but they probably insisted on that as part of the funding they provide to it.

Never saw the turquoise unit.

 

[emoaconr]

The brand Arriva Trains Merseyside was used, and the units had Arriva logos on them. The colour scheme was Merseytravel's, but they probably insisted on that as part of the funding they provide to it.

Never saw the turquoise unit.

It was a demonstration unit, I believe the single car of 508123. It was brought in line when the stock modernisation programme begun under the current franchisee.