Northern Unit Refurbishments and depot allocations.

[Bletchleyite]

Here are the seats taken from the event firm's facebook page who did the roadshow. I myself voted for A.

On the first photo A I think is the CAF standard seat that is used on the NIR DMUs. B is the ironing board. I don't recognise C, perhaps it is a new design.

On the second, A and C seem to have swapped with B remaining the "ironing board".

Very surprised to see my favourite (the high-backed winged "tombstone" as per GWR HSTs etc) not offered.

 

[jonesy3001]

Does that mean northern are having all of the 150/1s, must be a first for a company.

 

[northwichcat]

Forgive me if I've missed something buried in the thread (or indeed elsewhere), but why do a number of 170s now appear on 507021's list? I assume they are coming from Scotrail in the near/medium future?

It looks like he's added all the cascaded units which should be in the Northern fleet by December 19 - there's also Sprinters listed which haven't transferred to Northern yet.

The 16 x 170s confirmed as transferring will be from Scotrail but there is an option for additional 170s to go to Northern to fulfil the requirement for extra units required post-2019.

 

[northwichcat]

Does that mean northern are having all of the 150/1s, must be a first for a company.

Northern are to get all the Angel Trains 150s with Angel owning all the 150/0s, /1s and a small number of /2s.

 

[jonesy3001]

Northern are to get all the Angel Trains 150s with Angel owning all the 150/0s, /1s and a small number of /2s.

I take if some are going to 3 car they will be changing the numbers?

 

[507021]

One means that they've recieved the relevant PRM mods, whilst the other means it's either recieving them or in for full refurbishment or both, by the looks of it.

That's right. For example, 319450 has received PRM modifications and it is in the new base livery, but it has not yet been refreshed internally, so will be spending time out of service in the future to have an internal refresh to complete its overhaul.

 

[507021]

I take if some are going to 3 car they will be changing the numbers?

The 3 car hybrid sets will become Class 150/9 units, so will have 1509?? unit numbers.

 

[DJH1971]

319218 and 319219 have gone into storage, presumably ahead of their refurbishment before entering service. They were used as Christmas Tree units for the other 319s for a while, so that's why units arriving after the 319/2 pair are entering service before them.

Out of the "new" batch slowly starting to enter service, 319448 will be next.

Never heard of the 'Christmas Tree' term before.

What does this mean in lay-person's terms?

 

[TC60054]

Never heard of the 'Christmas Tree' term before.

What does this mean in lay-person's terms?

Robbed for parts to keep other members of the fleet going, in not so many words.

 

[Sparks807Evo]

I am under the impression 150001 and 150002 are remaining at GWR - hence their refurbishment. Apparently to aid flexibility for the Devon Metro. 150002 already made the move to the South West.

 

[northwichcat]

I am under the impression 150001 and 150002 are remaining at GWR - hence their refurbishment. Apparently to aid flexibility for the Devon Metro. 150002 already made the move to the South West.

If they do remain Northern will need something else in lieu as they are part of the 2019 train plan for Northern. I don't think they were due to transfer before the current GWR franchise ends.

 

[palmersears]

Had a quick trip aboard 156471 tonight, which looks the best of the bunch thus far in terms of the new livery. The inside is far more underwhelming, just a bit of a clean and some new blue padding here and there, but I believe this isn't the finished product internally?

 

[Sparks807Evo]

If they do remain Northern will need something else in lieu as they are part of the 2019 train plan for Northern. I don't think they were due to transfer before the current GWR franchise ends.

Ah right ok - I may well be mistaken then - the future fleet plans seem to be so dynamic at the moment! Have you got a link for the train plan by any chance as I haven't read it yet?

 

[507021]

Had a quick trip aboard 156471 tonight, which looks the best of the bunch thus far in terms of the new livery. The inside is far more underwhelming, just a bit of a clean and some new blue padding here and there, but I believe this isn't the finished product internally?

That's correct, none of units in the new livery are the finished product yet. The quartet of DMUs (150275, 156471 and 158752/756) are the closest though, but how close to the finished product they actually are, I don't know. The 319s which are in the new base livery have only had PRM mods so far, with the rather loud Northern Rail interior clashing with the much more subtle Arriva Rail North exterior. The one refreshed unit I have tried so far (158752) wasn't too bad at all, although I'm not going to make my final judgement on the refresh until we're told 'this is the finished refresh'.

I have to agree with you on the livery, the 156 definitely looks the best so far, in my view. The 150 doesn't suit it all unfortunately (the logos look too large to me), but I think the 319s will look good.

With regards to the seats for the new CAF units, as long as they aren't the ironing boards (Option B), I don't really mind whether they're Option A, Option C or "the mix of both" Option D. I voted for Option C myself, good posture and plenty of padding, so obviously I'd prefer those to be chosen but time will tell.

 

[DJH1971]

That's right. For example, 319450 has received PRM modifications and it is in the new base livery, but it has not yet been refreshed internally, so will be spending time out of service in the future to have an internal refresh to complete its overhaul.

I'm currently on 319450 into Liverpool and has notices in the train 'Just Visiting'.

Thought these additional 319's were permanent?

 

[158722]

Noted elsewhere that 156444 moved to LNWR Crewe last week, presumably the next one for refreshing? Already had the toilet Mods done.

 

[Mordac]

I'm currently on 319450 into Liverpool and has notices in the train 'Just Visiting'.

Thought these additional 319's were permanent?

Seven are permanent, but five will go after all the 331s arrive.

 

[Mordac]

Ah right ok - I may well be mistaken then - the future fleet plans seem to be so dynamic at the moment! Have you got a link for the train plan by any chance as I haven't read it yet?

You can find it in the franchise agreement here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa.../file/594494/northern-franchise-agreement.pdf

Of course, due to the delays with GWR electrification delaying their end of the cascade, take the dates with a whole saltshaker...

 

[Sparks807Evo]

You can find it in the franchise agreement here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa.../file/594494/northern-franchise-agreement.pdf

Of course, due to the delays with GWR electrification delaying their end of the cascade, take the dates with a whole saltshaker...

Thanks for the link - will have a look through it. Haha yeah all up in the air at the minute really...

 

[507 001]

Disagree with the thought that the 319s will look good in the new livery. White never looks good on a train. Full stop.

It's only now that I'm coming to appreciate the purple 'Northern Electrics' livery which looks very smart, the new white looks too much like GTR.

 

[507021]

Noted elsewhere that 156444 moved to LNWR Crewe last week, presumably the next one for refreshing? Already had the toilet Mods done.

Thanks for this, I've added it to the list.

 

[Malay States]

Disagree with the thought that the 319s will look good in the new livery. White never looks good on a train. Full stop.

It's only now that I'm coming to appreciate the purple 'Northern Electrics' livery which looks very smart, the new white looks too much like GTR.

Totally agree. Close up, as a train enters a platform, white looks grubby with the smallest layer of dirt, and this is what passengers see. I too think the 319 Northern Electrics livery is as good as it gets.

 

[childwallblues]

If they do remain Northern will need something else in lieu as they are part of the 2019 train plan for Northern. I don't think they were due to transfer before the current GWR franchise ends.

Yes but when the programme was set up for the transfer of these units nobody had ever heard of a 319 FLEX. They could be the answer.

 

[northwichcat]

Yes but when the programme was set up for the transfer of these units nobody had ever heard of a 319 FLEX. They could be the answer.

They are reportedly going to be a lot more expensive to operate than Sprinters with Northern only getting some as DfT will pay due to Network Rail not delivering overhead electrics to schedule.

They do need a 60m solution for a few routes in Yorkshire where 150s will be the only option.

 

[superkev]

Just received my modern railways mag and IW reports that northern have picked the seat least liked by passengers in the recent trial. Presumably the cheapest.
K

 

[507021]

Just received my modern railways mag and IW reports that northern have picked the seat least liked by passengers in the recent trial. Presumably the cheapest.
K

Oh dear...

 

[yorksrob]

Just received my modern railways mag and IW reports that northern have picked the seat least liked by passengers in the recent trial. Presumably the cheapest.
K

You couldn't make it up.

They should generate some good will by running the ten pound offer again.

 

[Karl]

They should generate some good will by running the ten pound offer again.

I've had my fingers crossed all year for this offer to return. COME ON NORTHERN!

 

[yorksrob]

I've had my fingers crossed all year for this offer to return. COME ON NORTHERN!

Yes, I think the last one was just after "new" Northern took over. Seems a long time ago.

 

[Andyh82]

Just received my modern railways mag and IW reports that northern have picked the seat least liked by passengers in the recent trial. Presumably the cheapest.
K

Not the thinly padded ironing board one?