2Q22 Test train Eastleigh to Barnham 27/12:

[wickham]

2Q22 Test train 0900 Eastleigh to Barnham ran yesterday 27.12.23 via a very convoluted route !
Realtime Trains | 2Q22 0900 Eastleigh East Yard to Barnham Up Sidings | 27/12/2023
This was observed passing through Frimley on the Ash Vale-Ascot line twice and was almost certainly formed of a 153 unit - possibly the first time one has ever been to this area ?
Does anyone know the identity of the unit concerned please ?

 

[Ciderking]

2Q22 Test train 0900 Eastleigh to Barnham ran yesterday 27.12.23 via a very convoluted route !
Realtime Trains | 2Q22 0900 Eastleigh East Yard to Barnham Up Sidings | 27/12/2023
This was observed passing through Frimley on the Ash Vale-Ascot line twice and was almost certainly formed of a 153 unit - possibly the first time one has ever been to this area ?
Does anyone know the identity of the unit concerned please ?

153 376 has been at Eastleigh for a few days now so almost certainly this one.

 

[Javelin_55]

2Q20 ran last week as well, also thought to be a 153. I'm not sure of the purpose of these trips but last week's jaunt caused a few issues on the Brighton main line due to route restrictions through certain platforms at Gatwick/Three Bridges, and conflicting info as to which ones!

 

[paul1609]

There was a 153 parked in what's normally the tamper siding at Barnham when I went down to football on the night of 19th Dec didn't twig it was anything special

 

[swt_passenger]

2Q20 ran last week as well, also thought to be a 153. I'm not sure of the purpose of these trips but last week's jaunt caused a few issues on the Brighton main line due to route restrictions through certain platforms at Gatwick/Three Bridges, and conflicting info as to which ones!

Class 153 isn’t in the tables in the Kent/Sussex public SA, I doubt it was ever felt necessary, in fact no 15X are listed. In the Wessex part of the SA 15X are included in tables but for 153 there are a vast majority of lines not cleared, and various specific platform restrictions. When used in GWR service I don’t think 153 were planned east of Southampton Central, although they possibly reached Eastleigh via Chandlers Ford?

IIRC the driver’s steps were a problem at one end of 153s, at least that came up in a previous discussion. Might the test unit 153s have had that modified away?

 

[wickham]

SWT-Passenger is correct, originally 153s were only allowed to run to Southampton from the Redbridge direction, they were not even allowed to shunt at Southampton via the London end tunnel. This probably changed when a few of the Wales & West services were diverted via Chandlers Ford and Eastleigh in order to serve Southampton Airport, but this arrangement did not last long. I am surprised that 153s are now finding their way to such obsure locations - who would ever have thought that one would be seen at Frimley, Ascot or Effingham Junction !! One does wonder if they are indeed route cleared or has this been overlooked because they are working as Network Rail test trains.

 

[Towers]

SWT-Passenger is correct, originally 153s were only allowed to run to Southampton from the Redbridge direction, they were not even allowed to shunt at Southampton via the London end tunnel. This probably changed when a few of the Wales & West services were diverted via Chandlers Ford and Eastleigh in order to serve Southampton Airport, but this arrangement did not last long. I am surprised that 153s are now finding their way to such obsure locations - who would ever have thought that one would be seen at Frimley, Ascot or Effingham Junction !! One does wonder if they are indeed route cleared or has this been overlooked because they are working as Network Rail test trains.

Given their notoriety for route clearance issues previously, it would be rather odd if NR “overlooked” the situation before sending them on adventures to new destinations I would think!

 

[The Puddock]

One does wonder if they are indeed route cleared or has this been overlooked because they are working as Network Rail test trains.

They are assessed and route cleared like any other vehicle that runs on Network Rail controlled infrastructure. They run under the authority of an NRAP (Network Rail Acceptance Panel) certificate which lists the compatible routes and any restrictions. The contents of the NRAP Cert are supposed to end up in the Sectional Appendix route clearance tables eventually but this seems to take an inordinately long time to sort out.

 

[Javelin_55]

Behold! 2Q20, formed of 153376.

Due to yet more issues with platform restrictions at Brighton (and longer turnaround times at the Sussex termini today) this was snapped at Three Bridges at lunchtime today 33 late, where it sat for a change of ends and a further 7 minute regulation for an on time Arun Valley service, before following said service all the way to Farlington Junction.

 

[Trainguy34]

Behold! 2Q20, formed of 153376.

Due to yet more issues with platform restrictions at Brighton (and longer turnaround times at the Sussex termini today) this was snapped at Three Bridges at lunchtime today 33 late, where it sat for a change of ends and a further 7 minute regulation for an on time Arun Valley service, before following said service all the way to Farlington Junction.

Per the destination display, was it going to Skegness?

 

[yorksrob]

Saw it at Lewes and Brighton today. Was surprised to see a 153 go past !

 

[Javelin_55]

Per the destination display, was it going to Skegness?

It is not - it's going back to Eastleigh.

 

[Towers]

It is not - it's going back to Eastleigh.

Eastleigh, Skegness - all the same, surely?!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Dec 2023 ==

As a matter of trivia, I’m curious as to how the doors are operated on this - I wonder whether a DKS and door control panels are all still in place, or if there’s some form of modification been made. I assume the hauled coaching stock and HST sets still have CDL as their hazard lights suggest?