Liveries > Merseyrail (2003)
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Merseyrail (2003) Livery

As part of the 2003-05 refurbishment of the Merseyrail fleet, a new livery was devised by Merseytravel. In keeping with the modernised appearance of the Class 507s and 508s post-refurbishment, the new livery marked a significant departure from the previous yellow and white colour schemes. This was also the first Merseyrail livery to use vinyls as opposed to traditional paint.



508126 is seen stabled in Southport carriage sidings on 18/08/12, retaining a relatively clean 2003 silver and yellow Merseyrail livery.
Photo © James Ross


Livery Summary

All carriers 507001/002/003/004/005/006/007/008/009/010/011/012/013/014/015
507016/017/018/019/020/021/023/024/025/026/027/028/029/030/031
507032/033
508103/104/108/110/111/112/114/115/117/120/122/123/124/125/126
508127/128/130/131/134/136/137/138/139/140/141/143
Current carriers
(May 2014)
507001/003/004/005/006/007/008/009/012/013/014/015/019/020/023
507024/025/026/028/029/030/033
508103/104/110/112/117/120/123/124/125/127/130/131/134/136/137
508138/140/141/143
Total 59 sets
First 508110 (April 2003)
Last -

Livery Description

Silver is used as the base colour for this livery. The traditional yellow of Merseytravel survives only at the outer ends of driving carriages and on the doors.

Units were vinyled at Eastleigh Works as part of their £32 million refurbishment. The vinyls were manufactured and applied at Eastleigh Works by Halo Rail, a market leader in livery application. This marked the beginning of a long partnership with Merseyrail which would include advertising liveries and name vinyls.

The process began in October 2002 when the first units entered the works, finally concluding over three years later in July 2005 with a total of 59 units treated.

508110 was the first unit adorned with the livery, emerging from Eastleigh for the first time on 16/04/03. 507033 was the last recipient, this set released from the works on 29/07/05.

A major problem with this livery was the lack of protection against weathering and vandalism. Graffiti attacks caused a large proportion of recipients to lose a number of their 'M' logos, with bodyside damage also conspicuous.

Six examples have lost their silver and yellow colours in favour of advertising schemes, although four reverted back. These include 507008/019/033 and 508134 which received four unique Capital of Culture advertising liveries from February 2008. They were put back into Merseyrail colours at Wabtec Doncaster during 2009, with 507033 the last to revert on 09/11/09. More recently, two further advertising liveries have been introduced: The Beatles Story (508111) and Liverpool Hope University (507002).

The now dated livery began to disappear permanently from January 2014, when a programme of re-vinyling into Merseyrail's new livery began.


The yellow side features shopping, the coast and the sights themes. Doors are white with orange surrounds and an 'M' logo on each. On both sides of the bodywork, images of people make up the background. Outline images in black display representations of amenities and activities, connecting using Merseyrail map lines. Captions are displayed beneath each outline.

507017 is pictured at Hamilton Square on 10/02/14 heading into Liverpool.

Photo © James Ross

 

The join between a unit in 2014 livery (507017) and a unit in 2003 livery (508134). Both units were forming the 16.36 West Kirby - Liverpool - West Kirby service on 25/02/14.

Photo © James Ross


Livery Variations

The first set to be adorned in this livery, 508110, initially carried a front end substantially different from the other 58. Much more yellow is noticeable at the top with only the unused destination blind and the area behind the horns black. The grooves below the light clusters were also painted black. It reverted to the standard front end design during October 2005.

The train is pictured standing at Rock Ferry on 04/07/04 working the 13.15 Liverpool Central - Ellesmere Port service.

Photo © John Skipsey

 

508131, the third refurbished Merseyrail unit, had another unique front end, although this was less conspicuous. The orange stripe at the top is rounded at either end of the cab, creating a 'wrap' effect. The destination blinds are also outlined in silver. Unlike 508110, this was not corrected.

On 18/08/09, it is seen at Rock Ferry forming a service to Chester.

Photo © James Ross

 

Carriage 64377 of 507011 received its Merseyrail branding nearer the coupler end of the coach as opposed to between the passenger doors on one side. It was an isolated anomaly, and despite a visit to Wabtec Doncaster for partial re-vinyling, was not corrected.

It is pictured at Southport on 18/09/05 preparing to lead the 12.13 train to Liverpool Central.

Photo © James Ross

 

The placement of front end 'M' brandings varied somewhat. Two sets, 507003 and 507010, had their 'M's positioned noticeably further to the left than others. These were both corrected during 2009 due to corrosion repairs.

In this picture, 507003 is seen resting at Southport before forming a service to Hunts Cross on 18/09/05.

Photo © James Ross

 

Liverpool 08 branding was applied to the fleet during 2008, the Capital of Culture year for Liverpool. A total of 55 units were given black logos, illustrated on 507007 in this picture. The remaining 4 sets received Capital of Culture advertising liveries and their logos were in different colours. Unit 508139, damaged at the time, only had partial branding applied and was never seen in public service.

507007 is pictured calling at Kirkdale forming an Ormskirk - Liverpool Central service during summer 2008.

Photo © James Ross


Livery Dates

#UnitStartEnd
1508110April 2003-
2508108September 2003May 2014
3508131October 2003-
4508120November 2003-
5508103January 2004-
6508104January 2004-
7508127February 2004-
8508124March 2004-
9508143March 2004-
10508126March 2004April 2014
11507007April 2004-
12507010May 2004May 2014
13508112May 2004-
14507011June 2004January 2014
15508114June 2004February 2014
16508139July 2004March 2014
17507020July 2004-
18508140July 2004-
19508128August 2004March 2014
20507018August 2004April 2014
21507023August 2004-
22507019September 2004-
23507016September 2004April 2014
24507027September 2004March 2014
25507001October 2004-
26507017October 2004February 2014
27508138October 2004-
28508111October 2004September 2011
29508134November 2004-
30508141November 2004-
31508136Novembr 2004-
32508115December 2004March 2014
33508125December 2004-
34508130December 2004-
35508117January 2005-
36508137January 2005-
37507002January 2005September 2012
38507003February 2005-
39507030February 2005-
40507005March 2005-
41507006March 2005-
42507004March 2005-
43508123March 2005-
44507021April 2005April 2014
45507031April 2005February 2014
46507012April 2005-
47507028April 2005-
48507029May 2005-
49507008May 2005-
50507009May 2005-
51507025May 2005-
52507014June 2005-
53507013June 2005-
54507026June 2005-
55507024July 2005-
56507015July 2005-
57508122July 2005February 2014
58507032July 2005-
59507033July 2005-


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