Northern Class 331 East:West unit swap

[Allwinter_Kit]

Do we know which carriages will be off the platform at which stations? Hopefully it’ll be somewhat consistent or I can see this being confusing for passengers.

It’s a bit of shame they did half a job on the platform extensions and not extend all stations (appreciating there is one platform at Shipley that can’t be done)

It does seem wildly inconsistent. I guess one thought might be that some of the reopened / newer stations (Crossflatts, Steeton & Silsden, Cononley) might be down for renewal soon anyway (they must be approaching 30 years old and are just wooden platforms I think) so maybe they off-loaded any extension costs onto a future renewal project?

 

[D6130]

It does seem wildly inconsistent. I guess one thought might be that some of the reopened / newer stations (Crossflatts, Steeton & Silsden, Cononley) might be down for renewal soon anyway (they must be approaching 30 years old and are just wooden platforms I think) so maybe they off-loaded any extension costs onto a future renewal project?

Cononley still has its original stone/concrete platforms, which were resurfaced for reopening in 1989. They are also a bit longer than the wooden platforms at the Metro stations, so the useable length could be increased. However I don't think that they're quite long enough for six cars.

 

[quantinghome]

It does seem wildly inconsistent. I guess one thought might be that some of the reopened / newer stations (Crossflatts, Steeton & Silsden, Cononley) might be down for renewal soon anyway (they must be approaching 30 years old and are just wooden platforms I think) so maybe they off-loaded any extension costs onto a future renewal project?

I think they just did the extensions where there were no obstacles. TBH can't see what obstacles there are at Steeton & Silsden, maybe the fact it's a combination of curve + speed which makes it a higher risk w.r.t. train kinematic envelope vs platform edge?

 

[SimplyLlama]

Cononley still has its original stone/concrete platforms, which were resurfaced for reopening in 1989. They are also a bit longer than the wooden platforms at the Metro stations, so the useable length could be increased. However I don't think that they're quite long enough for six cars.

I think that the skipton bound (I think up) is long enough for 5, but I don’t know if that is being utilised

 

[Earle Grey]

Do we know which carriages will be off the platform at which stations? Hopefully it’ll be somewhat consistent or I can see this being confusing for passengers.

The Northern paperwork I have shows aside from Leeds, 6 cars fully platformed both ways at Bingley, Keighley and Skipton (Platforms 2-4), Guiseley, Menston (Ilkley bound only), Burley (Ilkley bound only) and Ilkley, Shipley (Platform 3 only), Bradford Forster Square (Platforms 0-2).

Everywhere else the front 4 vehicles only platformed, one full set plus first doors of trailing set. Upon departing Skipton Platform 1 and Bradford Forster Square Platform 3 the whole of the rear set and the last set of doors on the front unit will be platformed/available for use.

 

[Adam0984]

Crucially at Cononley and Steeton towards Leeds it's the rear 3 carriages only with the front hanging off the platform and with the conductor been in the rear set they can't release any doors in the front 3 carriages as it's ASDO override backwards

 

[InkyScrolls]

Crucially at Cononley and Steeton towards Leeds it's the rear 3 carriages only with the front hanging off the platform and with the conductor been in the rear set they can't release any doors in the front 3 carriages as it's ASDO override backwards

As of yesterday ASDO is working correctly, so it will be the rear four.

 

[Harvey B]

Crucially at Cononley and Steeton towards Leeds it's the rear 3 carriages only with the front hanging off the platform and with the conductor been in the rear set they can't release any doors in the front 3 carriages as it's ASDO override backwards

I Imagine there'll be lots of confusion with people getting on the front set thinking they can still get off at cononley from the rear coach

 

[Adam0984]

Well hopefully the posters, signs, additional staff, train that tells you and platform announcements that tell you will stop this, if not you're off to Keighley

 

[xotGD]

I didn't realise that 6-car sets would also be working on a Sunday. But a pair of 331s are shuttling between Skipton and Leeds today.

 

[Allwinter_Kit]

Saw them rsttling down the valley from Kildwick Moor on the dog walk this morning. Amazing to see a reasonable length train in Northern livery!

 

[northernchris]

Well hopefully the posters, signs, additional staff, train that tells you and platform announcements that tell you will stop this, if not you're off to Keighley

Caught one of the 6 car workings from Leeds yesterday, and there were staff stood near the rear asking which station everyone was travelling to, then guiding you to the correct carriages. When travelling back from Shipley there was a poster on entry to platform 1 advising which carriages to use for each station, so Northern are doing a good job at getting the regulars used to the 6 cars

 

[oscarthecat92]

Two 6 car workings out this morning - starting on the 0716 Skipton to Leeds and 0730 Skipton to Leeds.

Was a welcome boost in capacity on my morning commute.

 

[oscarthecat92]

The third 6 car class 331 diagram doesn't seem to have come on stream yet and there are 3 cars out on the 1719 Leeds to Skipton again - any news on when the third 6 car diagram will come on stream

There do appear to be some teething problems with the door opening announcements not coming on on the approach to stations, with passengers trying to get off when the doors don't open. Not helped by the platform extensions not being used at Apperley Bridge and Shipley (Leeds direction)

 

[northernchris]

The third 6 car class 331 diagram doesn't seem to have come on stream yet and there are 3 cars out on the 1719 Leeds to Skipton again - any news on when the third 6 car diagram will come on stream

There do appear to be some teething problems with the door opening announcements not coming on on the approach to stations, with passengers trying to get off when the doors don't open. Not helped by the platform extensions not being used at Apperley Bridge and Shipley (Leeds direction)

I was on a Leeds bound 6 car 331 a couple of weeks ago where all doors opened at Shipley although the announcements did suggest it was front 4 carriages only.

 

[D6130]

I was on a Leeds bound 6 car 331 a couple of weeks ago where all doors opened at Shipley although the announcements did suggest it was front 4 carriages only.

Which platform was that ....3?

 

[northernchris]

Which platform was that ....3?

Platform 1

 

[D6130]

Platform 1

Has that been extended to take six cars? If not - and you are certain that doors were released on all six cars - that would be a serious operating incident.

 

[northernchris]

Has that been extended to take six cars? If not - and you are certain that doors were released on all six cars - that would be a serious operating incident.

I'm fairly sure, although happy to be corrected. The train was fully platformed.

 

[rich-leeds]

I'm fairly sure, although happy to be corrected. The train was fully platformed.

Yes, I've seen this in action too. Poster at Skipton presumes the same - i.e. use any carriage.

 

[skyhigh]

Has that been extended to take six cars?

Yes.

 

[Adam0984]

Yes platform 1 is long enough, yes we're permitted to release all the doors just have to SDO it rather than using ASDO until platform 4 has been extended opened and signed off

 

[Demic]

The third 6 car class 331 diagram doesn't seem to have come on stream yet and there are 3 cars out on the 1719 Leeds to Skipton again - any news on when the third 6 car diagram will come on stream

The third diagram is already on stream, but there is a shortage of other electric units that means all 3 six car diagrams can't run yet.

 

[oscarthecat92]

2 technical issues this week leading to long peak time delays and a cancellation from Leeds. 1656 Leeds to Skipton on Monday had a problem getting traction. 1719 Leeds to Skipton (Wednesday) cancelled due to the ASDO system not working. Seems to be teething problems with the length of the trains and amount of short platforms on these lines.

 

[xotGD]

No 6 car formations out in Airedale today.

Unit shortage or problems with the doors?

 

[Adam0984]

There's only 008 and 009 not out at any point today (so far) 010 is on a 333 diagram starting the day on a Doncaster to Leeds then onto the triangle for the day. Which leads me to think a shortage of 333s so the 6 cars have been split to cover.
Also 011 and 012 are on 333 diagrams

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2025 ==

1 6 car out today (Saturday) and it's on the diagram that has a siesta at Neville Hill from after peak till mid afternoon

 

[xotGD]

On a 6-car yesterday out of Leeds. The guard announced that passengers for Shipley should use the front 4 carriages, followed by an automatic announcement that the doors in the front two carriages would not open. The guard then repeated the correct information.

 

[308165]

The conductors really do seem to be struggling with the announcements on this. I've had various managlements around units, sets and coaches. The best one so far being that the rear three units wouldn't fit in the platform at Shipley, which wouldn't be surprising given that would make it a 12 car set!

 

[Adam0984]

The conductors really do seem to be struggling with the announcements on this. I've had various managlements around units, sets and coaches. The best one so far being that the rear three units wouldn't fit in the platform at Shipley, which wouldn't be surprising given that would make it a 12 car set!

It doesn't help when the train is contradicting the conductors announcements. Shipley is still officially 4 car max until platform 4 had its extension officially signed off.
I think we're getting to the point of a vast majority of conductors having worked a 6 car on the 2 main routes to Ilkley and Skipton so things should start bedding down a bit now we've had the practical experience and real life visuals of the train positioning etc

 

[xotGD]

Of course, the good thing withe 6-car formations is that I had a table all to myself on a peak time train. Mind, I was surprised how many people had trekked all the way to the front carriage.