Four-Car 185s?

[GrimsbyPacer]

Hi everyone.
I'm reading Rail Magazine, and on page 52 there's a summary section for TransPennine Express fleet and service plans for the next four years and one bulletpoint states:

"29 four-car Class 185s, refurbished and retained, primarily for South Trans-Pennine route (Manchester-Sheffield-Cleethorpes) and hourly Leeds-Huddersfield Manchester stopping service transferred from Arriva Rail North."

It also states "22 Class 185s leave the franchise."

Is this four-car statement true or an April Fool?
And how will it be achieved, new cars or shortening other 185s?
Thanks

 

[northwichcat]

They've made a mistake as TPE have said today all Manchester-Sheffield services will be 6 cars.

 

[YorkshireBear]

They've made a mistake as TPE have said today all Manchester-Sheffield services will be 6 cars.

Where have they said that out of interest?

 

[northwichcat]

Where have they said that out of interest?

On their website

From 2019, doubling of capacity between Sheffield and Manchester with every train operating with six carriages

http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/news/201...se-launches/new-franchise-benefits-by-region/

 

[Bletchleyite]

That is good news. Long overdue.

What is happening to TPE now is really what should have happened in the first place. It seems to me that it will genuinely transform it from an overcrowded, third-rate regional express TOC with InterCity ambition to a real InterCity operator comparable with the likes of Virgin West Coast.

Would be good if XC could be similarly sorted out at the next franchise.

My only fear is that 5-car will be too short for the WCML services, though if they are 5x26m this may not be as much of a concern as that's 6.5x20m.

 

[WatcherZero]

Was a typo in the Rail infobox accompanying the article, the main text has the correct length along with First saying every single train they operate will be at least 5 car.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

So most Grimsby trains will be six car aswell then?

 

[MCR247]

So most Grimsby trains will be six car aswell then?

Not if they're uncoupling a set at Sheffield (which seems likely)

 

[gordonthemoron]

surely they should have a half hourly 3 car service to Cleethorpes/Grimsby?

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

surely they should have a half hourly 3 car service to Cleethorpes/Grimsby?

A report by JMP of 'The Economics of rail on the South Humber' suggested half hourly is needed.
We did get 4car trains last year. I feel this line is last on TPE's list, why does Scarborough get 5car trains promised but Grimsby/Cleethorpes/Scunthorpe/Doncaster gets no improvement at all?

 

[northwichcat]

A report by JMP of 'The Economics of rail on the South Humber' suggested half hourly is needed.
We did get 4car trains last year. I feel this line is last on TPE's list, why does Scarborough get 5car trains promised but Grimsby/Cleethorpes/Scunthorpe/Doncaster gets no improvement at all?

Because Manchester-York is a busier corridor than Manchester-Doncaster and Scarborough is conventionally located beyond York. It's DfT who set the minimum service level even if operators can choose to run above the minimum level, where it's possible to do so.

 

[alexl92]

Was a typo in the Rail infobox accompanying the article, the main text has the correct length along with First saying every single train they operate will be at least 5 car.

At least 5 car? So they're going to be getting some 5 car units? Or some 2- and 3-car units that can work together?

 

[WatcherZero]

All the new units TPE is acquiring will be 5 car and the retained 185's will be operated as doubles (i.e. 6 car).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Is this four-car statement true or an April Fool?
And how will it be achieved, new cars or shortening other 185s?
Thanks

A sad fact of life is that the Class 185 units should have been four-car units originally. jcollins has given the reasons why this did not take place in a number of his postings over a long period of time.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

They were supposed to be extended to 4 car but DfT said no.

Once the At300's and the 68+mk5's (tbc) are in service the remaining 185's will run as 6 car pairs, that will include south TPE route services and possibly Liverpool-Nottingham will also be added