MERSEYRAIL withdrew its final three Class 508 electric multiple units from traffic in January, with the final set stopped by January 16.
The operator had originally planned to withdraw the final three-car EMUs in December.
Two sets undertook their last passenger runs on January 3, when No. 508108 was in action on West Kirby services, while No. 508114 operated on the Hunts Cross to Southport circuit. The following morning, the two units ran to Birkenhead North from West Kirby and Kirkdale respectively. Subsequently, on January 15, they were collected by Rail Operations Group No. 37800 Cassiopeia which then took the pair on their final journey, the 5Q78 06.11 Birkenhead North-Sims, Newport.
The stoppage and disposal of these two ‘508s’ left just No. 508104 in traffic, and this set remained in action until January 16. Its final passenger working was the 2N51 18.53 New Brighton-New Brighton (via the Liverpool loop line), after which it formed the 5B39 19.48 New Brighton-Birkenhead North empty stock working. It departed Birkenhead North with No. 507004 on January 22; the pair being hauled to Crewe South Yard by ROG No. 37884 Cepheus in advance of their final disposal.
The removal of the final sets from traffic in Merseyside does not quite mean the end for Class 508
