Northern 158 status

[northwichcat]

As far as I'm aware the below is the status of the 158s in the Northern fleet.

10 x 158s. Former MetroTrain units which were sold to Porterbrook. A condition of sale is they would remain in West Yorkshire until the end of the current franchise.

6 x 158s. Secured by Merseytravel for Liverpool to Wigan/Blackpool/Manchester Airport services. Northern use 156s in lieu on those services. Will the Merseytravel funding expire once Chat Moss is electrified?

6 x 158s. Secured by Yorkshire Forward. However, I understand the funding expired in September 2013 when the franchise was originally due to end.

The 8 x 158 centre cars were secured by DfT with the intention of being used mainly on Blackpool-York services.

Also the 158s have had CCTV fitted which was funded by both Metro and TfGM. A condition of that is that if they leave their current routes then the replacement units will have CCTV. For instance, if 185s replace the 158s on Manchester Victoria-Leeds that the condition will have been met. The 323s also have the same condition.

 

[YorkshireBear]

I believe so, we need to keep our eyes out and make sure that the Scots don't steal any before independence


We are now in a situation where despite Yorkshire Forward funding stopping Northern still need to pay for it all because if they don't they are screwed with capacity. TBH with their profits they can probably afford some additional leasing costs. They are in the positive side of cap and collar afterall.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

These are the kind of things which will form part of the interim franchise deal.
One of the reasons FGW's recent interim franchise delivered low premiums was because the various limited funding deals were rolled into the main franchise.
This relieves the local authority from the cost.
I shouldn't think there is any plan to remove the trains.
I'm not sure what happens in the current time period (ie between Sept 2013 when the original franchise was due to expire and March 2014 when it now expires).
The deal from April 2014 will be a new franchise agreement, even if it is only for one year. It is not an "extension" to the old one.

 

[Brian Aylott]

Northern's fleet is 45 not 22
8 x 3 car (Porterbrook)
27 x 2 car (Angel)
10 x 2 car (Eversholt managed - West Yorshire)
Brian

 

[northwichcat]

Northern's fleet is 45 not 22
8 x 3 car (Porterbrook)
27 x 2 car (Angel)
10 x 2 car (Eversholt managed - West Yorshire)
Brian

I didn't say that I specifically mentioned all of them but I mentioning which one's had conditions attached to their use.

 

[Brian Aylott]

Well, I don't know about conditions being applied but these 22, whilst not being common user, are frequently used outside the stated areas
Brian

 

[Surreyman]

Thought I read somewhere that some of Northerns fleet of 158s had been fitted with retention toilets or maybe this was only planned?
Anyone able to confirm or deny?

 

[sprinterguy]

Thought I read somewhere that some of Northerns fleet of 158s had been fitted with retention toilets or maybe this was only planned?
Anyone able to confirm or deny?

According to the RSSB (I believe it was) they have all been fitted with retention tanks a few years ago as part a national programme.

 

[Bevan Price]

6 x 158s. Secured by Merseytravel for Liverpool to Wigan/Blackpool/Manchester Airport services. Northern use 156s in lieu on those services. Will the Merseytravel funding expire once Chat Moss is electrified?
.

I thought that the Merseytravel funding for 156s was mainly to increase seating capacity on services previously operated by single 142s ? If the 319s (or 317s) are left as 4 car units when they (eventually) come north, there should be no need for this additional funding.

4 car emus should cater for most current peak hour loadings, and allow for a bit of the passenger growth that often follows electrification.

 

[point blank]

Thought I read somewhere that some of Northerns fleet of 158s had been fitted with retention toilets or maybe this was only planned?
Anyone able to confirm or deny?

Yes I can confirm that they are all now fitted.
whoops, I was beaten to it by Sprinterguy.