Are they in use yet? Its been ages since I've used them so I'm not really in touch with what's happening. I recall one was delivered only to be promptly covered in graffiti but that was a long time back.

The only trains I've seen have been the old ones, but thats only th ones running towards Chester passing through Bebington.

More than ten here now but you will not see a regular service for at least 6 months . The door opening closing agreement with the guards has not been union ratified. The testing has also being hindered due to the virus .

Are they any better than the old ones?

They certainly look better than the old ones with a lot more features.
I was surprised to see a bin in the carriage because I thought they banned them from all station platforms, so why have them on the trains?


There will also need to be a few upgrades to the platforms.

'Platform & power upgrades
Vital upgrades are being carried out on around 100 Merseyrail platforms to help make sure the network is ready for the new state-of-the-art trains and their sliding step technology.

This technology will make it much easier for people, including wheelchair users and those with prams and luggage to get on and off the trains.

In order to improve journey times, additional power infrastructure is also required. This includes new connections to Scottish Power’s network and additional substations, doubling the system’s power.

The enhanced system will enable regenerative braking which will reduce energy consumption and the railway’s carbon footprint.'

What these upgrades involve and how long they take is anyones guess.
If the coronavirus pandemic didn't happen, I suspect we would have had these new trains and upgrades in place by now.

A bit more info and pictures here: https://www.merseyrail.org/about-merseyrail/new-trains.aspx

The platforms upgrades were done in 2019, some of them had to be done twice. Wirral ones were done Sept/Oct 2019.

A few platforms need extending and signals moved as well.

Have these not been completed yet?
I also thought the underground stations platforms are not long enough for the new trains.
Maybe that's why they only have 1 door on each side of the front and rear carriages instead of 2, like they have in the middle carriages?