Batteries Included! Classic Merseyside train overpowers 3rd rail limitation
Photos by:- Class 507 Preservation Society

THE Class 507 Preservation Society was founded in 2023 to secure a Merseyrail class 507 unit for preservation as they were replaced by new class 777 trains. The society secured 507001 for preservation from its former owners in January 2025. The unit moved to:- Litchurch Lane Works, located in:- Derby, where in August 2025, it was shown at:- 'The Greatest Gathering,' the largest exhibition of trains in a generation, to celebrate Railway 200. The unit has remained at:- Derby since then and has been kept in operational condition, running on the site's 3rd rail test track several times.

On 2 September 2026, a milestone in electric railway preservation was achieved by the C507PS the 1st conversion of a preserved electric multiple unit to battery operation in Britain. The former Merseyrail EMU 507001 successfully ran under its own power, without a 3rd rail, in tests at:- Alstom's Litchurch Lane works in Derby, paving the way for future operation on a heritage railway.

This feat has been made possible thanks to the fitment of batteries inside the train's driving cars. These batteries can power the train's traction motors and compressor (which supplies air to the brakes), removing the need for a third rail power supply. This modification means the train can run under its own power on unelectrified railways, including:- the many heritage lines across the country.

On the afternoon of 1st September, the 3 car train completed several test runs on the works' internal railway lines. Over the course of 3 hours, it travelled a distance of:- 2.8 miles at speeds of up to:- 8 mph, all on a single charge.

These low speed test runs are just the beginning of the battery journey. The next stage will involve designing structural modifications to:- 507001 to permit higher capacity batteries to be fitted to the underframe, keeping all 3 cars available for passenger use. Initial modelling suggests that speeds of up to:- 25 mph will be possible, suitable for operation on most heritage railways.

Robert Hampton, chairman of C507PS, said:- "This is a historic moment for our society and electric train preservation. We have always been determined that:- 507001 would remain as an operational train, not be a static museum piece. Being able to run under its own power makes:- 507001 a useful asset to a heritage railway, and enables it to do what it did so well for 46 years, on Merseyside: transport passengers."

Tom Camps, Head of Engineering at C507PS, who is leading the battery project, remarked:- "The challenges of adapting a 50 year old train design for batteries are considerable, but we have now proved that the conversion is feasible. To see 507001 operating today is a tribute to the hard work of the society's Engineering team, and we look forward to refining the concept to allow passenger service in the future."

Jake D'Arcy, Head of Operations at C507PS, commented:- "I'm incredibly proud of what our society has achieved today. I'd like to pay a special thanks to all of our engineering team and our volunteering members for their ambition, hard work and dedication to make this happen. We will analyse the data from yesterday's test runs to further develop this concept which will enable the unit to operate in passenger service on a heritage railway in the future."

The society now numbers 140 members from Merseyside and beyond, ranging in age from:- 8 to 80. Membership starts from just:- �30 per year (�10 for under 18s) and prospective members can sign up at:- Class507.Org.UK.

Did you know that 507001 was 1 of 33 class 507 electric multiple unit (EMU) trains built by British Rail Engineering Limited at Holgate Road Works in York, for service on the Merseyrail network. It entered service on:- 25 October 1978, its 1st passenger duty being to carry HM Queen Elizabeth II on a:- "Royal Special" from:- Liverpool Moorfields to Kirkby. Its final working was on:- 3 November 2024 when it worked the:- "Sefton Sparkler" farewell tour of Merseyrail's Northern Line?

Inspectorate calls for Government review of public safety at events

THE UK Government should carry out a review of the arrangements for public safety at events, a new report from the policing inspectorate has found.

In a new report, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has highlighted that while there has been progress in safety arrangements at sports grounds since the 1990s, the safety framework for other public events is insufficient.

This follows an inspection commissioned by the Home Secretary to look at the contributions Police Forces make to safety advisory groups (SAGs) and other bodies responsible for public safety. SAGs are forums, made up of representatives from the Local Authority, event organisers and other relevant bodies, for discussing and advising on public safety at events.

The inspectorate found that the absence of legislation, statutory guidance and regulation for many public events, such:- as music festivals and cultural celebrations, is leaving the Police wrestling with widespread inconsistency. Inspectors said that this inconsistency extends to Police funding for public events, making it harder for the public to be kept safe.

Too often, HMICFRS found that the way that Police Forces and SAGs planned public safety operations was inconsistent and lacked clarity about the roles and responsibilities different organisations take in keeping the public safe.

The inspectorate is therefore calling on the Government to carry out a wide scale review of the arrangements for keeping the public safe at events.

His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer OBE QPM said:- "The warning we heard from too many people on this inspection is that it is a question of when, not if, public safety at an event will go wrong. We are concerned that the lack of legislation and statutory guidance for non-sporting events is leading to widespread inconsistencies in the Police's public safety operations. They, and the public, deserve clarity so that Police Forces can work with local authorities and event organisers to protect the public. That is why we are calling for the Government to carry out a review of public safety arrangements at events and the wider issues our inspection raises. This review, alongside the wider recommendations we make, will help make vital improvements to event safety."

The inspectorate also found that:-

The way SAGs across the country operate varies significantly with some local authorities not operating SAGs at all.
Guidance and training do not adequately prepare Police commanders to work with SAGs.
The lack of a safety certification regime or regulation for most public events is creating further inconsistencies; and
The Purple Guide, which sets out the roles and responsibilities for event safety, overstates the legal responsibilities of event organisers while downplaying the important role of the Police and other emergency services.

Alongside calling for a Government led review, HMICFRS has made another 36 recommendations. The recommendations are designed to provide clarity for Police Forces so they can collaborate with local authorities and event organisers effectively. This includes:-

Improving the training for Police Officers and staff involved with planning for public events and working with SAGs.
Strengthening the guidance for Police Forces and SAG chairs and attendees, including:- on the management of critical incidents.
Making sure there are robust quality assurance processes for the use of artificial intelligence in risk assessment.
Clarifying the funding that Police Forces can access for safety operations at public events.
Developing a national Police support function for events and introducing a national risk assessment matrix for all public events.

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