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EMR 180s to Skegness this summer
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How much more capacity do they have relative to a pair of 156s?
Iskra
Established Member
Rather than pure seat numbers, I think additional space for luggage, pushchairs etc is what would be the main benefit. I might do it for the novelty in declassified first if it happens.
However, aren’t they a bit heavy for the route? HST’s and 20’s have been used previously due to their light weight meaning they aren’t stuck at loco speeds, or do 180’s still count as MU’s? I know 66’s went there once with EMR(T?), but that was an exception.
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The real issue with the route was between Boston and Skegness as the track was in poor condition imposing a 30mph limit for heavy trains including the HST summer workings. The track was relayed several years ago now and the limit lifted, indeed it was said the limit could now be raised from the present 60 mph to 75 mph but the signal spacings need altering which has not been done so far.
A 4 car 156 has about 30 more seats but luggage storage wise only the parcel area at the one end of the unit for larger items.
I'm wondering if this has something to do with the 156's leaving for Northern already (which don't really need them until December apparently) and the incoming 170's not looking likely to arrive anytime soon.
The problem with this route is a seat count is meaningless as on summer Friday and Saturdays people travel with their entire world possessions and luggage gets places on seats, in fact anywhere and as I have found to my cost , asking them to move it is not the best move. Luggage space is critical on such services. A few extra seats don`t really mean anything. A 180 is 5 coaches compared to 4 of a doubled 156 so more space generally speaking
Part of life as a guard on Skegness services is learning compromise and even on full trains I use a couple of rows of seats for luggage or else it becomes unsafe, particularly on the dreadful 158s.
A 4 car 156 has two full parcels vans, two full height luggage stacks, room behind seat backs and non tilt profile full size overhead racks. They can gobble as much luggage as you can throw at them and the staff have become very good over the years at tetris. They are by far the best combination of trains to have.
The real losers are local cyclists who use the train all year round but often can't board in the summer owing to once a year travellers turning up with more luggage than the average Royal caravan.
The 180s would appear to be a goer, traction training is being organised for the relevant staff.
David Goddard
Established Member
Where are these?????
Iskra
Established Member
The middle cabs I assume
A test train ran on Saturday 2nd as a round trip to Skegness using 180111 ahead of passenger services beginning on the 23rd. A small bit of trivia is that the test train used platform 5 in Skegness, which to my knowledge is seldom used normally
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Realtime Trains | 5Z80 0842 Etches Park Sdgs to Skegness | 02/07/2022
Real-time train running information for 5Z80 0842 departure from Etches Park Sdgs to Skegness on 02/07/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Realtime Trains | 5Z81 1344 Skegness to Etches Park Sdgs | 02/07/2022
Real-time train running information for 5Z81 1344 departure from Skegness to Etches Park Sdgs on 02/07/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Iskra
Established Member
Very interesting. Thanks for updating us!A test train ran on Saturday 2nd as a round trip to Skegness using 180111 ahead of passenger services beginning on the 23rd. A small bit of trivia is that the test train used platform 5 in Skegness, which to my knowledge is seldom used normally
Realtime Trains | 5Z80 0842 Etches Park Sdgs to Skegness | 02/07/2022
Real-time train running information for 5Z80 0842 departure from Etches Park Sdgs to Skegness on 02/07/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Realtime Trains | 5Z81 1344 Skegness to Etches Park Sdgs | 02/07/2022
Real-time train running information for 5Z81 1344 departure from Skegness to Etches Park Sdgs on 02/07/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
A 156 has a large amount of luggage space in the opposite end of the unit to the disabled space
In the 57 car adjacent to the cab. Each unit has a parcels van. The ex EMT ones had a bulkhead removed to make it even roomier - you can get huge amounts of stuff in there.
Skymonster
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Hmmm… Might have a trip out to Skeggy on 1S01 or 1S03 one week - like with the HSTs, it should be a comfortable ride as first is likely to be declassified again (no first class fares). I also gather though that if two 180s aren’t available on the day, neither service will run as the chosen method of rescue should one fail is to recover it with the other.
High Dyke
Established Member
I hope they provided the signallers along the route with the correct authority to run paperwork, something that was still being prepared before I went on annual leave.
Will the 180's make it to Skegness without breaking down? I had one fail on me the other week. Was booked on the same train today and it arrived late due to a "fault on the train" but did complete it's journey ok.
I really like the 180's, but the reliability is sticky to say the least.
I really like the 180's, but the reliability is sticky to say the least.
EMR have to make them work considering they’re retaining them long-term now - that is until they can order more units to replace them…
I hope they can as i really do like them when they're operating well.
Comfy and quick, seem more spacious than the 222's inside too - and better air con!
mike57
Established Member
What is the minimum number of engines they can run on? Low speeds, lack of gradients, shouldn't be too taxing. I dont know where the ex Hull trains units ended up but I hope they have fixed the leaks, we had a wet journey back from London on one occasion a few years ago when we went through heavy rain
I was a little disappointed with the catering facilities, but the extra room is probably a bonus for this usage!
Andy Pacer
Established Member
EMR!
Just a thought, but if the 156s were to deputise or work some of the Skegness's, would a emptied out 153 be a help or a hindrance? Almost similar to the ScotRail bike units but perhaps not as permanently converted.
The best combo was always 1 x 156 for the proper bog with 2 x 153 for 3 total luggage vans. We'd have loved to have kept some as motor luggage vans.
Silver Cobra
Member
I'm currently travelling on 180109 on my way to Skegness. Grabbed a quick photo of it at Sleaford.
Got to say that it's definitely a lot more 'cozy' than I remember the HST specials being back in 2019, but I guess that makes sense being only 5 coaches compared to 8 with the HSTs.
**EDIT: And here is 180109 at Skegness, making it successfully without breaking down
Got to say that it's definitely a lot more 'cozy' than I remember the HST specials being back in 2019, but I guess that makes sense being only 5 coaches compared to 8 with the HSTs.
**EDIT: And here is 180109 at Skegness, making it successfully without breaking down
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I was on the 09:23 Derby-Skegness.I'm currently travelling on 180109 on my way to Skegness. Grabbed a quick photo of it at Sleaford.
View attachment 118089
Got to say that it's definitely a lot more 'cozy' than I remember the HST specials being back in 2019, but I guess that makes sense being only 5 coaches compared to 8 with the HSTs.
**EDIT: And here is 180109 at Skegness, making it successfully without breaking down
View attachment 118093
Loads boarding at Nottingham & Grantham.
43096
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10th September. It’s in the timetable if you look (https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co....pvaxxwlo3HxKCqMOccLne7hk/emr_tt07-may22v3.pdf) although it’s not as clear as it ought to be.
Thanks, I'll have to have fit it in one weekend.
Something quite scenic about the flat, bleak Lincolnshire landscape you can see from the train after Grantham.
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