Northern Class 153 routes

[Ant158]

Looking on Real-time trains and having observed the workings on the Clitheroe line recently, it appears that the Class 153 units which had more often than not been attached to another unit on the route have stopped appearing as often. For a route that took a long time to regularly get 3 coach trains this is a shame.

Does anyone know if his is a temporary Covid measure and or which routes the Class 153s have been moved onto?

Many thanks

153301 with a Class 158 at Horrocksford Junction

 

[158757]

They were removed as they brake in step 2 when in multiple with a 158 in step 1, or something along those lines, which was causing an excessive number of wheelflats. Clitheroe did need 3 car trains but at the moment the traffic levels mean it copes fine with 2, particularly as of the 4 diagrams 3 are 158 and 1 156, which means 46 metre trains instead of 40 metre 150's.

I'm not sure if they will come back as they are not planned to be in use past May 2021 anyway, although there's no detail as to what will replace them yet given the platforms beyond Blackburn do not fit a 4 car set.

 

[M60lad]

For the past couple of weeks/months I've noticed a at least 3 or more 153s stabled during the day at Newton Heath Depot apart from that I'm not to sure what services their actually used on.

 

[Mack91]

For the past couple of weeks/months I've noticed a at least 3 or more 153s stabled during the day at Newton Heath Depot apart from that I'm not to sure what services their actually used on.

I've also noticed many lined up on one siding at Neville Hill during the day as well.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Pairs often turn up on the Penistone line.

 

[_toommm_]

Pairs often turn up on the Penistone line.

If the OP is interested, one such pair is running today:

Realtime Trains - 2B11 1008 Huddersfield to Sheffield

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[AMD]

They have been taken out of service for leaf fall season, as 158757 notes the issue is with differences in the braking system when attached to another type of unit. Also as they are not PRM compliant they cannot run on their own.
Should be back for December timetable change, then the plan is that they will be out of the train plan for the May 2021 timetable change.

 

[IanXC]

Also as they are not PRM compliant they cannot run on their own.

Other than on a limited number of lines as per the PRM derogations.

 

[Ant158]

Thanks for the info all, I was thinking they just hadn’t been given a picture or left off the realtimetrains site.