British Rail Class 508

British Rail Class 508 (or 4PER^[5][6]) electric multiple units (EMUs) were built by BREL York works in 1979-80. They were the fourth variant of BR's standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, eventually encompassing 755 vehicles and five classes (313/314/315/507/508). They have mostly worked on the Merseyrail network since 1983, and continue to do so, now refurbished by Alstom's Eastleigh Works. The Class 508 unit is now 37 years old, making them among the oldest units still in service on the UK mainland rail network, after the Class 313 and Class 507.

Description

The class was developed for Merseyside following extensive trials and testing of the 4Pep/2Pep stock built in the early 1970s. Testing of Class 313 took place on the Northern Line on Merseyside, using 313013/063^[7] which were loaned from the Great Northern Line of the Eastern Region^[8] to Hall Road depot. Original plans were drawn up for 58 Class 508s to be constructed,^[8] although costing issues limited the eventual number to 43. However, following planning and building, British Rail decided to divert the 508s to work alongside much older first-generation 4Sub EMUs in the London Waterloo area. The first unit was delivered to Strawberry Hill depot on 9 August 1979.^[8] Based at Wimbledon Park depot, they soon became problematic due to their non-standard dimensions and brake problems caused by leaf fall.^[8][9] Once a new build of Class 455 EMUs were complete, the Class 508s were slowly sent to their originally intended home on the Merseyrail network. Driver training began at Kirkdale on 17 February 1982,^[10] and the first Class 508 began service on the Northern Line the following month.^[10] The first Wirral Line service commenced on 8 June 1984,^[10] and the Class 508s had completely displaced the Class 503 fleet by the end of March 1985.^[10] The fleet was then working in parallel with the already well-established fleet of Class 507 EMUs across the River Mersey, which had been working on Merseyside since 1978.

Delivered to the Southern Region as four-car sets numbered 508 001–043, all of the sets were reduced to three cars for Merseyside operation by the removal of one trailer and renumbered as 508/1. The individual passenger door controls were plated over before they were sent north. The spare trailer car from each set was incorporated into class 455/7 EMUs. Carriage numbering is as follows:

• 64649-64691 - DMSO
• 71483-71525 - TSO
• 71526–71568 – TSO (removed before transfer to Merseyside)
• 64692-64734 - BDMSO

Current operations

Merseyrail

Merseyrail operates 27 508s, which are used interchangeably between the Northern Line and the Wirral Line. They commonly work the following services:

• Southport - Hunts Cross line
• Liverpool Central - Ormskirk line
• Liverpool Central - Kirkby line
• Liverpool Lime Street - New Brighton line
• Liverpool Lime Street - West Kirby line
• Liverpool Lime Street - Chester line
• Liverpool Lime Street - Ellesmere Port line

A Class 508 unit enters the stabling point at Rock Ferry.

Merseyrail's fleet of Class 508 units are primarily maintained at Birkenhead North TMD, with minor maintenance being undertaken at Kirkdale TMD. The units, which are out of service, have stabling points at various sidings around the Merseyrail network. These can be found at the station termini and the depots, as well as at Rock Ferry station and Birkenhead North station.

Past operations

Southeastern

Connex South Eastern leased twelve Class 508s freed up by capacity reductions on Merseyrail services in 1996 (508101/105/106/107/109/113/116/119/121/129/132/133), for operation on specific Kent services. Their main duties included London Bridge to Tunbridge Wells, Paddock Wood to Strood, Maidstone West to Three Bridges and Sittingbourne to Sheerness-on-Sea, as well as Grove Park to Bromley North for a short period. Units were based at Gillingham Depot.^[11]

In September 2006 new operator Southeastern announced that a cascade of rolling stock would see Class 466 units replace the 508s on the Sheerness and Medway Valley lines in the December 2006 timetable.^[12] Following this timetable change the fleet was reduced to six serviceable units. There were five sets in 'warm store' at Ashford Chart Leacon, and one unit, 508212, was cannibalised to keep the surviving service units in operation, including the swap of its TSO coach with one from a unit that ran into a tree on the Redhill to Tonbridge Line. With the transfer of the Tonbridge to London via Redhill services to Southern, Southeastern placed its remaining 508s in store in December 2008.

Silverlink

Silverlink leased three 508s from Angel Trains in 2003 for operation on the Watford DC Line to assist its fleet of Class 313 EMUs. These were withdrawn following the delivery of Class 378 Capitalstar units. These three Class 508/3 units were modified by Alstom Eastleigh to designs provided by Interfleet Technology to make them inter-operable with Class 313 units.

Fleet information

A Class 508 at Hampton Court in 1984, with its original number and livery.

• They were originally numbered 508001–508043. When they transferred to Merseyside they were renumbered to 508101–508143 and designated as Class 508/1 to avoid confusion with the similarly numbered Class 507s.
• The Merseyrail 508s were refurbished in 2003/04, the first unit to re-enter service being 508110. The final unit to leave for the works for refurbishment was formerly black-striped 508137.
• Southeastern units were renumbered 508/2 when they were refurbished in 1996. 508203, 205, 207, 208, 210 and 211 were further overhauled at Wabtec, Doncaster in 2007.
• Silverlink units were renumbered 508/3 when they were refurbished in 2003, modified to make them compatible with Class 313s for operation on Euston to Watford Junction services.
• Both Southeastern and London Overground have withdrawn their fleets for replacement - Southeastern has been able to cascade existing rolling stock to the Sheerness and Medway lines, while the London Bridge to Tonbridge via Redhill service has been transferred to Southern; London Overground has fully introduced its new Class 378 units.
• 508/2 units 508201-508206, 508209, 508211 and 508212 as well as parts of 508207, 508208 and 508210 were scrapped at Eastleigh in 2013.
• 508/2 BDMSO carriages 64710 (508208) and 64720 (508210) survive.
• DMSO carriage 64664 and BDMSO carriage 64707 (ex. 508207) are in use as translator vehicles.
• All of the 508/3 units were scrapped at Eastleigh in 2013.

Network Rail's Route Utilisation Strategy for Merseyside has called for an expansion to Merseyrail's current fleet to allow for both additional services and lengthening of trains to six cars. In December 2009 it was reported by various sources that the former Southeastern and London Overground units would be transferred to Merseyrail.^[13][14] Two ex-London-Overground units were moved to Warrington Arpley Yard in November 2009, but returned south soon after. Meanwhile, the ex Southeastern 508s were moved to Telford Railfreight Terminal for storage between May 2010 and February 2011 ^[15] before they moved to Eastleigh for further storage in late 2011. On 14 August 2012, 508212 was moved to the Fire Training College at Moreton-in-Marsh.^[16]

Liveries

Southeastern unit 508210 at London Bridge

London Overground unit 508301 stands at London Euston in Silverlink Metro livery.

Class 508s have appeared in many colours over their lifetimes, more so than any EMU of similar type.

• BR Blue and Grey (1979–1997): the initial livery lasted until well into their careers on Merseyside. The units also carried the MPTE 69 logo and Merseyrail branding on the driver's side of the outer ends of the driving vehicles after transfer to Merseyside.
• Merseyrail Original (1992–2001; repaints 2002–2004): yellow with white around the windows and black and grey stripes, exclusive to Merseyside EMUs.
• Connex Yellow and White (1996–2006): white with yellow effects down the sides.
• Merseyrail Revised (2000–2004): a lighter yellow, and no black stripe.^[17]
• Merseyrail trial liveries (2001): One car of 508123 used for testing new liveries on each side of the carriage.^[18]
• Merseyrail Refurbished (2003–2015): silver, with vertical curved yellow stripes receding from the cab ends. The passenger doors were all yellow, introduced as a safety measure by Merseyrail. 'M' branding on the front ends and on the sides, and a Merseyrail vinyl. The vinyl was purchased without graffiti protection, and so it does not wear well if vandalised. Several sets are run with their 'M' logos missing or worn away.
• Silverlink Metro (2004–): purple, green and silver, applied when they were modified in 2003.
• South Eastern Trains (2005–2006): white with yellow and black side stripes. Unit 508208 was one of the first to receive this, in May 2005.
• Southeastern (April 2006 – December 2008): white, black and grey as carried by the 465/466 fleet, with the doors in corporate lilac.
• Merseyrail Capital of Culture (2008–2009): based around the Merseyrail Refurbished livery, with overlain graphics. One of the four sets in the promotional Capital of Culture liveries^[19] is 508134, with the theme of creativity with a purple background. Photographs depicted focus on some of the culture of Liverpool, such as the SuperLambBanana. The colourful liveries met with mixed reactions from travellers. It was most often on the Southport – Hunts Cross line. Passenger doors carry diagonal safety stripes.^[20][21]

The train in The Beatles Story livery at Hillside railway station.

508108 at Moreton displaying one of the Merseyrail Good Communications liveries.

• Merseyrail The Beatles Story (October 2011 –): blue background, with mainly-white text and graphics, advertising The Beatles Story exhibition at the Albert Dock in Liverpool. The passenger doors are all yellow, as a safety measure which was introduced, previously, by Merseyrail. The livery is applied as a vinyl skin.^[22] This livery is unique to unit number 508111.
• Merseyrail Good Communications (February 2014 –): six different designs, one side with a yellow background, and the other with a brushed metal background.^[23] Both sides have lifestyle text, in a rounded font, and graphics along a lower railway map-type stubbed stripe. The passenger doors are white on the yellow sides of the coaches,^[24] and yellow on the brushed metal sides of the coaches. There is Merseyrail 'M' branding on each of the passenger doors, as well as on the cab fronts. The livery is applied as a vinyl skin.^[25]

Naming

Named units are as follows:^[26][27]

• 508111 - The Beatles
• 508123 - William Roscoe
• 508136 - Capital of Culture^[28] (denamed)
• 508136 - Wilfred Owen MC
• 508207 - James D Rowlands^[29]

Incidents

Birkenhead Fire

508118 was gutted by fire during 2001 at Birkenhead.

Crowhurst derailment

On 6 March 2007 508210, forming the 0500 Tonbridge to Gatwick Airport, derailed near Crowhurst, Surrey, after hitting a fallen tree on the line. None of the eight people on board were hurt.^[30]

Liverpool Central derailment

On 26 October 2005 508124, forming 2W43 1706 West Kirby return via Liverpool Lime Street, derailed 200m short of Liverpool Central, caused by track gauge widening due to poor track condition. There were no serious injuries. The RAIB report^[31] cited incompatibility between Class 508 (and 507) EMUs and the Liverpool Loop track as a causal factor, along with maintenance and other track design concerns.

Plans for replacement

On 14 May 2012, Merseytravel announced that it was beginning a project for replacement of the 508s and 507s, with new trains to be expected by the early 2020s.^[32]

Merseytravel is considering several options to modernise the Merseyrail rolling stock by the end of the decade. This includes new stock or an extensive re-working of the existing Class 507s and 508s.^[33] The lease on the Class 507s and 508s has been extended to 2018. As part of the agreement with Angel Trains, the fleet will receive a refresh package including external re-livery, internal enhancements and engineering work.^[34]

On 11 January 2016 Merseytravel announced the short list of companies bidding to build new trains which will replace the Class 507 and Class 508s on the Merseyrail network. Merseyrail expect to announce the winner before the end of 2016.^[35]

References

Sources

• Cadwallader, Jonathan; Jenkins, Martin (2010). Merseyside Electrics. Ian Allan. ISBN 9780711034174. OCLC 455806364. 
• Fox, Peter (1994). Electric Multiple Units. British Railways Pocket Book No.4 (7th ed.). Platform 5. ISBN 9781872524603. 
• Marsden, Colin (1982). Motive Power Recognition:2 EMUs (1st ed.). Ian Allan. ISBN 0 7110 1165 6. 
• Maund, T.B. (2001). Merseyrail Electrics: The Inside Story. NBC Books. OCLC 655126526. 

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 508.

• Hilbert, Martyn (2016). Merseyrail Electric. Fonthill Media. ISBN 9781781555132. 
• West, Lee (26 August – 8 September 1998). "Connex '508s' go to work on Isle of Sheppey line". RAIL. No. 338. EMAP Apex Publications. p. 15. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.