Video shows new Merseyrail trains being tested for first time

The first footage of one of Merseyrail's brand new state-of-the-art trains has been released to the public.

The exciting video clip shows one of the newly built trains making its way along a test track in the Wildenrath area of Germany - as the date when the new fleet arrives in Merseyside gets closer.

Merseytravel tweeted: "Latest news from the test track.

"Testing is underway in Wildenrath, Germany with the first new state-of-the-art train for the @Merseyrail network now moving independently for the first time."

The stunning new Class 777 trains are due to start arriving on the Merseyrail network from next year - with the roll-out of the new models continuing into 2021.

The release of the footage comes in the same week as a major breakthrough was achieved that appears to have ended a bitter row over the arrival of the new trains.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Workers Uniuon (RMT) has been locked in dispute with Merseyrail over issues around the future role of guards on the new trains since 2017.

But yesterday the union and Merseyrail announced that key agreements had been met and a planned round of fresh strikes had been cancelled - with the strong suggestion that the dispute is coming to an end.

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram inherited that dispute when he was elected to his current position and has brokered talks between the two sides.

Tweeting the video of the new trains today, Mayor Rotheram said: "Coming soon to the @merseyrail network: our brand new, state-of-the-art trains, publicly owned and built to meet the needs of our city region."

The ECHO understands the latest video shows the new trains operating under battery power.

A 'third rail' testing will take place on the outdoor track at the Wilderneath site in the coming days. This will test how the new trains will move when they arrive on the Merseyrail network.