Northern Unit Refurbishments and depot allocations.

[sbrignall72]

One for diligentdave, are there new dates for when 150120 and 150275 will be released.

 

[diligentdave]

One for diligentdave, are there new dates for when 150120 and 150275 will be released.

150120 looks like I got my dates mixed up with 210. Currently 25/7/26
150210 move planned for 20th May
150275 now looking like 1st June. This is currently the first set date for this unit.
155345 now more likely 19th June.
156401 currently possibly 31st July - same
156466 currently 5th June - same
156481 currently 30th May - same
156488 now 11th July.
150222 not known
150001 currently September.

 

[sbrignall72]

150120 looks like I got my dates mixed up with 210. Currently 25/7/26
150210 move planned for 20th May
150275 now looking like 1st June. This is currently the first set date for this unit.
155345 now more likely 19th June.
156401 currently possibly 31st July - same
156466 currently 5th June - same
156481 currently 30th May - same
156488 now 11th July.
150222 not known
150001 currently September.

Thank you diligentdave most appreciated

 

[150275mylords]

Is there any reason why 150121 and 150122 are around Leeds today on a normally /2 run?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Is there any reason why 150121 and 150122 are around Leeds today on a normally /2 run?

Hmm, looks like they made their way across from Newton Heath on Sunday, with 150271 coming the other way.
150121 + 150122 - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S90564/2026-05-17/detailed#allox_id=2
150271 - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S90563/2026-05-17/detailed#allox_id=1


150271 looks to be out on New Mills services today - it's one I've not seen yet so I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for it when it comes my way.

 

[skyhigh]

Is there any reason why 150121 and 150122 are around Leeds today on a normally /2 run?

150s are being swapped around between West and East.

I don't know how many or why though.

 

[D6130]

150s are being swapped around between West and East.

I don't know how many or why though.

I suspect that it might be because the majority of North West diagrams are four cars; whereas the majority of Leeds diagrams are two cars. Swapping the Leeds area 150/2s for 150/1s from Newton Heath would allow for through connections between units on more services, thud improving revenue protection opportunities.

 

[Iskra]

I suspect that it might be because the majority of North West diagrams are four cars; whereas the majority of Leeds diagrams are two cars. Swapping the Leeds area 150/2s for 150/1s from Newton Heath would allow for through connections between units on more services, this improving revenue protection opportunities.

That’s a good theory, and very sensible.

Could it also help with unit familiarisation if Northern gain any TfW 150’s and they head to the North West or are they treated as exactly the same?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Could it also help with unit familiarisation if Northern gain any TfW 150’s and they head to the North West or are they treated as exactly the same?

150225 has been around Manchester for the last few years - 150226 was too before it was reformed to the middle cars of 150007 and 150008.

150224 used to be around too, but has gone back to the east side.

 

[1D53]

150s are being swapped around between West and East.

I don't know how many or why though.

It's the full allocation of 24 at NL being swapped around.

 

[Iskra]

150225 has been around Manchester for the last few years - 150226 was too before it was reformed to the middle cars of 150007 and 150008.

150224 used to be around too, but has gone back to the east side.

Thanks

 

[AMD]

It's the full allocation of 24 at NL being swapped around.

Finally.
I asked Chris Jackson about this a good number of years ago and all I got told then was that it was for fleet technical reasons!

 

[pokemonsuper9]

It's the full allocation of 24 at NL being swapped around.

Excellent, I'll be able to get the ones I've not used and seen - and the through connection will be useful.

Does that include 150225 going over or is it planned to stay?

 

[BurtonM]

150/2s are rubbish, disappointing news.

 

[IanXC]

Finally.
I asked Chris Jackson about this a good number of years ago and all I got told then was that it was for fleet technical reasons!

A significant factor always seemed to be the 4 car 150 workings that terminate at Knaresborough and therefore could require a change of ends on Knaresborough viaduct. That doesn't seem to be a thing anymore so perhaps that has significantly changed the outlook?

150/2s are rubbish, disappointing news.

The 150/1s are not exactly performing well in Yorkshire so far....

 

[skyhigh]

A significant factor always seemed to be the 4 car 150 workings that terminate at Knaresborough and therefore could require a change of ends on Knaresborough viaduct. That doesn't seem to be a thing anymore so perhaps that has significantly changed the outlook?

There is a walking route provided at Knaresborough to change between units so I doubt that was the reason.

 

[M60lad]

What is it why people don't like 150/2s? I know that there's a number of differences between a 150/1 and a 150/2 and to me the they sound different.

 

[19Gnasher69]

What is it why people don't like 150/2s? I know that there's a number of differences between a 150/1 and a 150/2 and to me the they sound different.

I think that the question should be, why do people even have a preference when it comes to 150s - they’re all awful to travel on.

 

[Class 466]

I presume we are nowhere nearer to the ex WMT 323s getting some kind of internal work done?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I presume we are nowhere nearer to the ex WMT 323s getting some kind of internal work done?

I hope they take as much time as possible on that. The warm, homely WMR interior is much nicer than the overlit, stark blue Northern one in my book.

 

[py_megapixel]

I think that the question should be, why do people even have a preference when it comes to 150s - they’re all awful to travel on.

The gangwayed ones are slightly preferable when multiple are coupled together as it allows you to walk the length of the train and find a seat, find a working toilet if the one in your half is broken, speak to the guard if needed or whatever.

Also, some posting here are probably traincrew, and of course for them the different cabs will be a factor.

But yes, they're all knackered and badly need replacing.

 

[amahy]

150/2s are rubbish, disappointing news.

Personally, I prefer the 150/2s to the 150/1s, as the end gangways make them better when 2 units are coupled together. Also, some of the /1s have those awful, tiny back breaking seats, whereas the 150/2s all have much more comfortable seating.

 

[D6130]

Personally, I prefer the 150/2s to the 150/1s, as the end gangways make them better when 2 units are coupled together. Also, some of the /1s have those awful, tiny back breaking seats, whereas the 150/2s all have much more comfortable seating.

....but, in the case of the Northern ones, absolutely no leg room (unless you're a midget!)

 

[amahy]

....but, in the case of the Northern ones, absolutely no leg room (unless you're a midget!)

Thankfully, I am a midget! I thought the legroom across all Northern 150s was the same anyway?

 

[Whisky Papa]

There is a walking route provided at Knaresborough to change between units so I doubt that was the reason.

It definitely was the reason at one time, I can assure you. I spent most of 2008 compiling Short Term Plan unit diagrams for the western side of Northern, and at that time all Cl 150s were allocated to Newton Heath. The vast majority ie both 150/1 and 150/2 were in a single pool of 50+ diagrams (54 I think, wish I could locate my old copies of them!), simply marked as '150/1' and these worked on both sides of the Pennines, cycling through with no distinction as to which sub-class was which. Bear in mind they were quite often coupled to 142/1s as well as 156s and other 150s on the western side, so a corridor connection was perhaps viewed as less important then.

However, there was also a small pool at Newton Heath marked as '150/2' - I think it comprised six diagrams, but possibly eight. I rarely had any reason to touch these units, as they worked almost entirely in West Yorkshire. Amongst other services, they worked the 4-car services terminating at Knaresborough, which required a corridor connection to change ends at that time.

 

[BurtonM]

150/2s also don't have a proper cycle space, there's nowhere to put a bike without it blocking the gangway or a vestibule.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

150/2s also don't have a proper cycle space, there's nowhere to put a bike without it blocking the gangway or a vestibule.

Do they not?
I've definitely been on 150/2s with bike spaces (at the end of the non-toilet carriage).

Or are they like the 150/1s and have many different layouts?

 

[Northern150]

Recently noticed some 156s (Manchester area i'm in) have ironing board seats now identical to those on the CAFs. Are these being installed as part of the overhauls in place of the old seats or are they just leftover from another operator that had ironing boards like Scotrail? They look brand new.

 

[dave87016]

Recently noticed some 156s (Manchester area i'm in) have ironing board seats now identical to those on the CAFs. Are these being installed as part of the overhauls in place of the old seats or are they just leftover from another operator that had ironing boards like Scotrail? They look brand new.

I don’t think so , I believe they are probably the usual Heaton based 156’s ( 421/423//429/444/475/485/491 ) which are on the Manchester side due to the Corkickle tunnel closure

 

[Northern150]

I don’t think so , I believe they are probably the usual Heaton based 156’s ( 421/423//429/444/475/485/491 ) which are on the Manchester side due to the Corkickle tunnel closure

I just checked it was 485