Porterbrook Cl.769 'Flex' trains from 319s, initially for Northern

[507016]

Most likely not, because it will be going back to porterbrook once the overhauls are completed

 

[D365]

Can anyone summarise the ex TfW ones please? AIUI TfW received and operated one fewer than was planned as there seems to have been an issue with one of the driving cars. Would I be talking gibberish when I think a class 319 driving car was sent to Canton as a replacement for a 769 car, but obviously never entered traffic ? (T I A)

769426 had a replacement DT 'donated' from 799001 (the first Porterbrook ’HydroFlex’ unit).

 

[507016]

Anyone know when 421s first service will
Be?

 

[Class 466]

Most likely not, because it will be going back to porterbrook once the overhauls are completed

Given how poor their reliability is, you’d think they’d keep this one additionally…

 

[Ribbleman]

Unlikely to be repainted as the loan of the two former TfW sets was only supposed to cover the period during which the eight Northern units would undergo C6 overhauls. That was planned to be 14 months, starting from last January. So the first of the loan arrivals is already 6 months late.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Which 319/769 is currently near Stoke-on-Trent please?

 

[zain_031]

just seen that theres another move from Crewe to Allerton booked today, could this be another 769 coming up?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K37902/2025-06-24/detailed

 

[Jamesrob637]

just seen that theres another move from Crewe to Allerton booked today, could this be another 769 coming up?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K37902/2025-06-24/detailed

Nope, cancelled.

 

[Geeves]

My favourite thing so far is that we are on refurb 2 of 8... So far the two replacement units have done absolutely nothing, are six (nearly seven) months late and have cost the good old tax payer 400K

Great!

 

[Bertie the bus]

You have missed the best part, which is the 1 unit that has returned seems to be even more unreliable than the others and than before it went to Kilmarnock.

 

[Bikeman78]

You have missed the best part, which is the 1 unit that has returned seems to be even more unreliable than the others and than before it went to Kilmarnock.

I enjoy reading this thread. It makes me laugh every time.

 

[thealexweb]

My favourite thing so far is that we are on refurb 2 of 8... So far the two replacement units have done absolutely nothing, are six (nearly seven) months late and have cost the good old tax payer 400K

Great!

How are Northern still paying well anything for these units? Its time to call it, nice and reliable ex-TFW 158s going off lease soon....

 

[DannyMich2018]

How are Northern still paying well anything for these units? Its time to call it, nice and reliable ex-TFW 158s going off lease soon....

This thread goes back to Dec 2016, these entered service in May 2021, just over 4 years ago, still awfully unreliable but sadly nothing is available to replace these yet so Northern can't bin them off yet. Regarding TFW 158 these won't sadly be available for some time yet.

 

[thealexweb]

This thread goes back to Dec 2016, these entered service in May 2021, just over 4 years ago, still awfully unreliable but sadly nothing is available to replace these yet so Northern can't bin them off yet. Regarding TFW 158 these won't sadly be available for some time yet.

Has there been an extension? In another thread there was suggestion the first TFW 158s go off lease early 2026.

 

[Geeves]

How are Northern still paying well anything for these units? Its time to call it, nice and reliable ex-TFW 158s going off lease soon....

Its somewhere in this thread that the deal for the two extra ones has come in at somewhere around 400k, not free from the ROSCO for providing such terrible trains, I suppose at the end of the day they are not responsible directly for the unreliability but even it seems slightly unfair... to the UK tax payer!

 

[507016]

421 still not stretched its legs yet? How long would it be till its out in service

 

[Geeves]

Well 424 and 431 started the day, it looks like one or the other broke down somehow so today there are no 769s out at all as of around 11am

 

[M60lad]

There was another 769 (I think it was 424) stabled up at Newton Heath for most of yesterday, it was there about 12:50 when I was on my way to work and it was still there stabled in the same place when I was on my way home at about 18:35.

 

[D365]

There was another 769 (I think it was 424) stabled up at Newton Heath for most of yesterday, it was there about 12:50 when I was on my way to work and it was still there stabled in the same place when I was on my way home at about 18:35.

I’ve only seen 448 at Newton Heath, adjacent to the Metrolink tracks. It’s been there since at least Sunday.

 

[david l]

Just 448 and 450 appear to have started the day, there were several ECS moves yesterday involving the other 'active' and allegedly non-active ones yesterday (424 went from Wigan NW to AN last night ECS whilst 431 which sat at Southport most of the day moved last night to SP and 442 also went from Wigan NW to AN last night -but separately from 424!)). 421 still not moving, 452 not yet appeared at all, 434 still at Kilmarnock - moves to/from there were scheduled for last week but cancelled. Most 769 diagrams (as per usual) being covered by the good old NH 150/156's, but several (if not most) shortformed. Now if this were in the south..............

 

[Soft Hands]

Just 448 and 450 appear to have started the day, there were several ECS moves yesterday involving the other 'active' and allegedly non-active ones yesterday (424 went from Wigan NW to AN last night ECS whilst 431 which sat at Southport most of the day moved last night to SP and 442 also went from Wigan NW to AN last night -but separately from 424!)). 421 still not moving, 452 not yet appeared at all, 434 still at Kilmarnock - moves to/from there were scheduled for last week but cancelled. Most 769 diagrams (as per usual) being covered by the good old NH 150/156's, but several (if not most) shortformed. Now if this were in the south..............

NH is now so short of units (156460 went to Heaton on 18/6/25) that they are having to keep demics in service, running in pairs, with the demic car in the middle. Example today 150125 & 156416 (150125 OEO) out all day on the Buxton turns. The demic car is locked out, dead, with no lights so the "4 coach" train is actually a 3 car.

 

[D365]

NH is now so short of units (156460 went to Heaton on 18/6/25) that they are having to keep demics in service, running in pairs, with the demic car in the middle. Example today 150125 & 156416 (150125 OEO) out all day on the Buxton turns. The demic car is locked out, dead, with no lights so the "4 coach" train is actually a 3 car.

Presumably OEO meaning ”one engine only”?

 

[childwallblues]

There were no 769s visible outside Allerton Depot when i passed at 0830 yesterday morning but on my return at 1545 there was one at the far end of the neck and another at the South Parkway end.

 

[Soft Hands]

Presumably OEO meaning ”one engine only”?

Yes, sorry, that is correct!

 

[Bikeman78]

Just 448 and 450 appear to have started the day, there were several ECS moves yesterday involving the other 'active' and allegedly non-active ones yesterday (424 went from Wigan NW to AN last night ECS whilst 431 which sat at Southport most of the day moved last night to SP and 442 also went from Wigan NW to AN last night -but separately from 424!)). 421 still not moving, 452 not yet appeared at all, 434 still at Kilmarnock - moves to/from there were scheduled for last week but cancelled. Most 769 diagrams (as per usual) being covered by the good old NH 150/156's, but several (if not most) shortformed. Now if this were in the south..............

When was the last time that six turned out for service? And did they all make it to the end of the day?

 

[david l]

769456 currently en-route behind 37884 on 5Q08 Allerton-Kilmarnock. Don't think that 769434 has come back yet.

3 in use today out of the 6 diagrammed with still no sign of the TfW cavalry.

 

[FrontSideBus]

I went past Allerton the other day and saw a TFW liveried one sitting in the yard but didn't manage to get the number or see if it had a panto on it. When you see them next to Northern examples, it makes you appreciate (IMO) how much better TFW's livery is.

 

[Wyrleybart]

NH is now so short of units (156460 went to Heaton on 18/6/25) that they are having to keep demics in service, running in pairs, with the demic car in the middle. Example today 150125 & 156416 (150125 OEO) out all day on the Buxton turns. The demic car is locked out, dead, with no lights so the "4 coach" train is actually a 3 car.

Interesting. Was the locked car on the end ? Presumably not because the driver or guard would have to work in it. Is there power fed from the other car for lights etc ?

 

[Soft Hands]

Interesting. Was the locked car on the end ? Presumably not because the driver or guard would have to work in it. Is there power fed from the other car for lights etc ?

No, when this happens the demic car is always in the middle of the four car set, completely locked out of use, dead, no lights! It seems to be acceptable to run pairs of units in service like this for a day or two whereas, if the demic is an outer car, the unit has to come out of service immediately!

 

[Geeves]

Finally!

769421 has come into service. Seen here about to depart on 2W01 0608 Vic - Southport.