Class 222 from EMR to Polmadie

[Russel]

222001 is seen in new LUMO livery having been renumbered as 222601. Second photo shows the interior which has new seats. Photos sent to me today

Very selective interior photos they've used!

 

[WesternLancer]

Very selective interior photos they've used!

Are they the only 2 tables on the train?

 

[ScottGallagher]

Are they new seats? ive only been on a 222 once last Christmas with the same moquette as this so they havent replaced the seat covers but assume new carpet under the plastic!

 

[fgwrich]

Are they new seats? ive only been on a 222 once last Christmas with the same moquette as this so they havent replaced the seat covers but assume new carpet under the plastic!

Unless the plan has changed, just new seats in the former FC area. I think it’s a little disingenuous of them to show this area off with the Beacon Rail (Eversholt) mutual operator grey Moquette being used.

 

[Russel]

Are they new seats? ive only been on a 222 once last Christmas with the same moquette as this so they havent replaced the seat covers but assume new carpet under the plastic!

This is what I was referring to in my previous comment about them being selective with what they are showing, the original post on Facebook has two interior photos, both of the now standard ex Frist Class coach and nothing of the rest of the train with it's EMR interior!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Annoying that the number has been taken off the front, feels strange to see the front without it.

They might not have applied it yet; I'm pretty sure the RSSB standards still mandate having the number on the front - although it can be the unit designator only, and not the class number as well.

 

[littledude]

They might not have applied it yet; I'm pretty sure the RSSB standards still mandate having the number on the front - although it can be the unit designator only, and not the class number as well.

How does the IET fleet get around this?

 

[JModulo]

They might not have applied it yet; I'm pretty sure the RSSB standards still mandate having the number on the front - although it can be the unit designator only, and not the class number as well.

They dont. All Voyagers, Pendos, IETs to name a few.

 

[WSnook37025]

Ill assume that 601 has had a carraige removed? there was talk of them being 6 car units which would make sense renumbering them to /6 ?

 

[Amos390]

Ill assume that 601 has had a carraige removed? there was talk of them being 6 car units which would make sense renumbering them to /6 ?

Yes, carriage 60341 was removed I believe

 

[WSnook37025]

Yes, carriage 60341 was removed I believe

thanks for that info. Assume this will go into one of the 5 car sets?

 

[Amos390]

thanks for that info. Assume this will go into one of the 5 car sets?

Presumably, or storage (as there is only 1 5-car set being strengthened to 6, and 4 7-car sets going to 6)

Edit: looks like 222005 is getting coach 60344 from 222004, so spare coaches from 222001-003 will go to storage

 

[dan4291]

There's paths for moves between Widnes and Barton Under Needwood (Central Rivers?) on Friday 1st May so would this be 222601's first journey after refurbishment and renumbering, with presumably another 222 going off for refurbishment?

Realtime Trains | 5Q58 0830 Widnes Transport Tech to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd | 01/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q58 0830 departure from Widnes Transport Tech to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd on 01/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q36 1120 Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Widnes Transport Tech | 01/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q36 1120 departure from Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Widnes Transport Tech on 01/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Jacob Porrett]

There's paths for moves between Widnes and Barton Under Needwood (Central Rivers?) on Friday 1st May so would this be 222601's first journey after refurbishment and renumbering, with presumably another 222 going off for refurbishment?

Realtime Trains | 5Q58 0830 Widnes Transport Tech to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd | 01/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q58 0830 departure from Widnes Transport Tech to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd on 01/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q36 1120 Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Widnes Transport Tech | 01/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q36 1120 departure from Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Widnes Transport Tech on 01/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Looks like it yeah.

 

[dan4291]

With some changes in paths today saw 222601 on its first mainline run post-Lumo refurbishment working a VST path 5Z20 from Widnes to Central Rivers, with an EMR liveried 222 going to Widnes beforehand on 5Q36, don't know the unit number though (EDIT: it was 222004).

Realtime Trains | 5Q36 1120 Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Widnes Transport Tech | 01/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q36 1120 departure from Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Widnes Transport Tech on 01/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Z20 1450 Widnes Transport Tech to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd | 01/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z20 1450 departure from Widnes Transport Tech to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd on 01/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

And a video showing 222601 on the mainline: -

 

[p.d87]

With some changes in paths today saw 222601 on its first mainline run post-Lumo refurbishment working a VST path 5Z20 from Widnes to Central Rivers, with an EMR liveried 222 going to Widnes beforehand on 5Q36, don't know the unit number though.

Realtime Trains | 5Q36 1120 Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Widnes Transport Tech | 01/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q36 1120 departure from Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Widnes Transport Tech on 01/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Z20 1450 Widnes Transport Tech to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd | 01/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z20 1450 departure from Widnes Transport Tech to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd on 01/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

And a video showing 222601 on the mainline: -

I notice the 3rd coach has an all blue exterior door at the rear, rather than silver like the rest, for non passenger use. Have they kept the buffets in?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Hope we see it on the training runs soon.
Would I be correct in saying only 222005 has been out and about so far?

 

[CR165022]

Hope we see it on the training runs soon.
Would I be correct in saying only 222005 has been out and about so far?

222002 has also been out and about.

 

[liamf656]

I notice the 3rd coach has an all blue exterior door at the rear, rather than silver like the rest, for non passenger use. Have they kept the buffets in?

I'm not sure how difficult it would be to convert a crew door into a passenger door (you can open it with a T key while the rest of the doors are still locked), so there could be chance that the buffet is gone but the door is left unchanged

 

[pokemonsuper9]

222002 has also been out and about.

I sometimes see one of them, I'd always just assumed it was 005 so far.
I'll make sure to try to be in viewing distance of the number in future.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I'm not sure how difficult it would be to convert a crew door into a passenger door (you can open it with a T key while the rest of the doors are still locked), so there could be chance that the buffet is gone but the door is left unchanged

My bet, is actual physical buffet counter, fridges etc. completely emptied, switched off, shutters down, not visible, but still there.

 

[liamf656]

My bet, is actual physical buffet counter, fridges etc. completely emptied, switched off, shutters down, not visible, but still there.

That wouldn't surprise me, as that's pretty much what they've been doing for the past 7+ years anyway. Athough I believe (but don't quote me) that they're modular and can be removed in a similar fashion to the Voyagers and Pendolinos. It'll be interesting nonetheless to see what, if anything, has been done

 

[Defiance149]

Does anyone have confirmation of 222601's new formation please?

 

[Amos390]

Does anyone have confirmation of 222601's new formation please?

I believe it should be 60241,60445,60621,60561,60551,60161

 

[WSnook37025]

Presumably, or storage (as there is only 1 5-car set being strengthened to 6, and 4 7-car sets going to 6)

Edit: looks like 222005 is getting coach 60344 from 222004, so spare coaches from 222001-003 will go to storage

That would make 005 an 8 car set?

 

[Merle Haggard]

That would make 005 an 8 car set?

No. it was reduced to a five car a little while ago. Its MF was declassified at one end to make it similar to the usual MC and the 2 MS cars went to make 4 cars 5 car.

 

[Amos390]

That would make 005 an 8 car set?

005 will be brought up to 6 cars only, with it gaining coach 60344 from 222004, the rest of the coaches removed from 222001-003 will be spares.

 

[D365]

Just a quick summary of which 222s have left, what their last passenger workings were, and the date of departure from Etches Park, for the benefit of those keeping track

Unit	Date of last working	Last service worked	Date of departure
222001	19/08/25	1C90	01/12/25
222002	24/10/25	1F82	13/01/26
222003	09/01/26	1D88	09/02/26
222004	25/01/26	1F47	Yet to leave
222005	20/09/25	1F85	27/10/25

Has 222004 been stood down yet from EMR duties?

 

[CR165022]

Has 222004 been stood down yet from EMR duties?

Yes, and it's at Widnes being refurbished

 

[liamf656]

Has 222004 been stood down yet from EMR duties?

Forgot I had this list! Updated now