If Northern got the GWR 769s...

[L+Y]

I believe Northern have been offered but turned down GWR's 769 fleet.

For me personally that's a shame as I rather like the 769s, but I appreciate this is a niche position!

The question is- if Northern received an additional 19 (?) 769 sets, what if any routes would be suitable for bimode operation?

 

[JonathanH]

The question is- if Northern received an additional 19 (?) 769 sets, what if any routes would be suitable for bimode operation?

The second question is where would they be serviced and how would training happen.

The third is how much fuel range do they have.

I think Northern is right to turn them down. Far too complicated to put them in service.

As for the initial question, possibilities might have been Manchester to Buxton, Rainford to Blackburn, Rochdale to Clitheroe.

Manchester Airport to Windermere or Barrow would be a significant downgrade in passenger accommodation.

 

[AGH]

Northern as a franchise is well suited to bi or Tri mode. Major cities already electric so in theory it might help. Prefer flirts and as 319s here are on borrowed time so not a forward thinking choice?? Aren't northern looking at other bi modes possibly from caf to match the 195 / 331 in terms of basic underpinning?

 

[507020]

Note that Northern is more likely to get the TfW 769s than the GWR ones.

 

[JonathanH]

Note that Northern is more likely to get the TfW 769s than the GWR ones.

Why? Both are unlikely. They have just taken on extra 156s.

 

[507020]

Why? Both are unlikely. They have just taken on extra 156s.

The GWR 769s contain a lot of additional complexity associated with having both a 3rd rail and Diesel generator supply sharing the original DC bus. This is not really appropriate for Northern.

The TfW 769s are virtually identical to the Northern ones other than for cab air conditioning (which the Northern 769s are being fitted with) chargers in the passenger saloon and the removal of the pantograph, but none of the associated AC equipment.

My understanding is that for Northern to make use of the TfW would require nothing more than the addition of a new pantograph, but the GWR 769s would require major modification.

 

[Energy]

Northern's 769s haven't been particularly well behaved, and the ex-GWR units are more complicated. Northern's fleet direction is new build with them working on procuring new (possibly bimode) units to replace sprinters and 769s. Additional 769s don't fit in their fleet strategy.

Why? Both are unlikely. They have just taken on extra 156s.

And there are still 156s in storage.

 

[Kite159]

Northern's 769s haven't been particularly well behaved, and the ex-GWR units are more complicated. Northern's fleet direction is new build with them working on procuring new (possibly bimode) units to replace sprinters and 769s. Additional 769s don't fit in their fleet strategy.


And there are still 156s in storage.

Which other than the former Scottish one are rust buckets

 

[D365]

Which other than the former Scottish one are rust buckets

That explains why Angel hasn't been moving them on...