Ah yes, I remember the scramble each day to try and secure this compartment!!
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Northern Unit Refurbishments and depot allocations.
- Thread starter darloscott
- Start date
Ah yes, I remember the scramble each day to try and secure this compartment!!
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northwichcat
Veteran Member
There must be Victoria only. Piccadilly are still running 2 cars on diagrams which were 4 car pre-May plus they are still short forming services when a unit fails. There's loads of short formations listed on Journey Check currently: https://www.journeycheck.com/northernrail
DJH1971
Established Member
Not sure if it is just me, but during the last couple of weeks, Northern's 319/4's seem to have gone into hiding.
Four of them are away for conversion to 769 at the moment mate, these are 319424, 319431, 319450 and 319456.
DJH1971
Established Member
Iskra
Established Member
Does anyone know why Northern onboard PIS, keeps saying ‘change here for Transpennine services.’ 2 different trains have said this today, one at Leeds where there are many operators but the others don’t get mentioned. The second time was approaching Wakefield Kirkgate which is strange as TPE only pass through early in the morning and late at night and I don’t think it’s ever a passenger call?
Overall though the onboard PIS are much better and more informative than they used to be.
Overall though the onboard PIS are much better and more informative than they used to be.
Extra info has been added to some stations like change for TPE, Merseyrail, Local Buses, Metrolink etc. Unfortunately a couple of errors like Wakefield Kirkgate has crept in. Eventually audio will accompany the additional info text
LA50041
Established Member
- Joined
- 20 Feb 2017
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- 3,186
319442 is currently in Manchester seems to be working
1U92 0738 Blackpool North to Manchester Airport
DJH1971
Established Member
It would obviously had to go via Wigan and Golborne Junction then.
LA50041
Established Member
- Joined
- 20 Feb 2017
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- 3,186
Yes, that service is booked via WGN
I can’t believe yet another Northern franchise is doing cheap refurbishments that don’t hit the mark.
We had to watch the previous franchise do poor refurbs of the 158s compared to how EMT dealt with theirs.
Now the current franchise is making a mess of it with cheap cloth seats and a general low cost feel, compared to the much higher standards seen at GWR and pretty much everyone else.
Will we ever have a Northern refurbishment that is industry leading and ahead of anyone else?
We had to watch the previous franchise do poor refurbs of the 158s compared to how EMT dealt with theirs.
Now the current franchise is making a mess of it with cheap cloth seats and a general low cost feel, compared to the much higher standards seen at GWR and pretty much everyone else.
Will we ever have a Northern refurbishment that is industry leading and ahead of anyone else?
Flyingsprinter
Member
- Joined
- 1 Feb 2018
- Messages
- 99
Are any 153’s getting any prm mods? Or are all the 153’s that aren’t going to Scotland getting scrapped?
LOL The Irony
Established Member
Unless things change, those not going to Scotland or Wales (and maybe East Midlands) are to become razor blades.
thejuggler
Established Member
- Joined
- 8 Jan 2016
- Messages
- 1,651
Had my first trip on a fully refurbed 158 yesterday. Thankfully it was only 20 minutes, which was long enough on the terrible ironing board seats.
The seat reservation system trunking looked like it had been fitted by someone who had never done it before. The finish was shocking.
The seat reservation system trunking looked like it had been fitted by someone who had never done it before. The finish was shocking.
No, installing a PRM compliant toilet on a 153 would reduce their capacity too much.
LOL The Irony
Established Member
Seems to be a problem with stock that passes through Brodies.
158845 wasn't refurbished at Brodies.
Iskra
Established Member
On the contrary, I had one from Carlisle to Leeds yesterday, a substantial journey and found it comfortable enough with a bright and pleasant ambience. It also had the added benefit of being clean, unlike the subsequent 158 I boarded at Leeds which was a non refurbished type, complete with 10 years of grime.
LOL The Irony
Established Member
Ah right. How many people are doing refurbs?
northernchris
Established Member
- Joined
- 24 Jul 2011
- Messages
- 1,559
I was also on 158845 yesterday and agree the seats were comfortable and it looks bright and airy, and would pass for an as new train
SteveyBee131
Member
There's alot going through the rumour mill at the moment. I think time will tell...
Killingworth
Established Member
There are a lot running round as very useful single car trains for several TOCs as well as making versatile additions to make a 2 car train into 3. Many of the routes don't need a 2-car train but if 153s are scrapped that's presumably what they'll have to get, and the 3 car trains will need to be 4.
No.
It would help if the DfT stepped in and told Arriva to actually refurbish the trains to "as new" rather than a deep clean.
simon7929
Member
When the trains are fresh from refurbishment they do appear acceptable. I don't believe they could be described ' as good as new ' like Arriva claimed they would be at the start of the franchise before the work was carried out. The biggest problem though is that the cleaning programme involved to keep them looking decent falls well below par. It's not just Arriva but all the previous companies who ran the franchise before them too! Passenger surveys have constantly highlighted the need for cleaner trains but unfortunately it falls on death ears. Basic stuff that all the Northern franchise holders have struggled to get to grips with. The trains become tatty very quickly and the layers of grime through neglect tend to become a permanent fixture. Yet a lot of money is spent refurbishing the fleet but why bother if there is no thought for the aftercare?
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I was on 158845 on Tuesday too, going from Leeds to Shipley only so not a long journey but I thought it was OK. perhaps not quite what I had expected, but still a significant improvement on the state of some of the un-refurnished units. Not a Renatus quality job by any means, but did anybody really expect that given the franchise and it's requirements to massively reduce subsidy levels?
I know there are some concerns on the seat covers and how they will stand up, so time will tell if Northern will improve on previous franchises efforts but perhaps with a larger fleet once all new and cascaded units are delivered, there will be more scope to allow it?
This is very true sadly. People might complain about the age of the Sprinter's, and there are certain aspects which are evident of their age such as the lack of air-conditioning and the noise generated. However the complete lack of cleanliness is the biggest factor leaving a fleet permanently in need of a refurbishment.
The 2 car 158s have PRM mods at Brush Loughborough and digital train mods and repaint at Arriva Traincare Crewe
superkev
Established Member
Some movements both too and from Brush and Neville hill yesterday shown as 158s see http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y11027/2018/10/20/advanced.
Also a couple of cancelled 158 paths too and from Kilmarnock.
Anyone in the know as to which units.
K
Also a couple of cancelled 158 paths too and from Kilmarnock.
Anyone in the know as to which units.
K