Northern Unit Refurbishments and depot allocations.

[td97]

150218 and 150228 are moving the opposite way 24/05/26

Was 150218 not already allocated to Newton Heath, although it was out of service for years following its "thermal incident".

Because 150225 is already on the Manchester side, and has been here for many years.

150210 is/was also a NH unit.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Was 150218 not already allocated to Newton Heath, although it was out of service for years following its "thermal incident".

It came across yesterday so it definitely was at Neville Hill.

150210 is/was also a NH unit.

150210 is at Wolverton at the moment - but the last time I saw it (25/10/2025) it was on this side. Not sure how long it has been around though.
I saw it at Bolton on 08/08/2018, then Dore and Totley (on the Nottingham tracks) on 19/08/2023, then at Manchester Victoria on 27/08/2025, so it must have been swapping around a bit.

 

[dave87016]

Don’t forget 150207 which was a northern unit went GWR permanently a few years ago

 

[psmith2023]

Wonder why it isn’t 25 /1s, is that because of the /0s? Thanks either way

The 150s/01s are better on the Sunday services what use 4 cars with both sets not linked up as it's not safe and plus conductor can only stay in one set on the 195s

 

[david l]

150105/50 went NH-NL yesterday, with 150218/28 going NL-NH. Last weeks moves involved 150121/22 going NH-NL with those tight Yorkshiremen only sending 150271 from NL-NH. 150150 had been a NH resident since 9/90. 150121 apparently failed on its first day in traffic at NL and hasn't as yet re-appeared.
With regard to 150210/18/28 mentioned in previous posts, all of these units have spent some time working on the west side, although recorded depot re-allocations thesed days are not as consistently reported as previously. 150218 had two spells at NH between a long spell out of action with a thermal incident.

 

[1D53]

150210 is at Wolverton at the moment - but the last time I saw it (25/10/2025) it was on this side. Not sure how long it has been around though.
I saw it at Bolton on 08/08/2018, then Dore and Totley (on the Nottingham tracks) on 19/08/2023, then at Manchester Victoria on 27/08/2025, so it must have been swapping around a bit.

210 is returning back to NH today - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K66418/2026-05-25/detailed

 

[sbrignall72]

210 is returning back to NH today - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K66418/2026-05-25/detailed

Was cancelled

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Looks like the Newton Heath / Neville Hill swap paths are in for the next 4 Sundays.

31/05/2026:
5Z51 1035 Newton Heath T.M.D. to Neville Hill T&R.S.M.D - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S90574/2026-05-31/detailed
5Z52 1258 Neville Hill T&R.S.M.D to Newton Heath T.M.D. - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S90573/2026-05-31/detailed

07/06/2026:
5Z51 0927 Newton Heath T.M.D. to Neville Hill T&R.S.M.D - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S90568/2026-06-07/detailed
5Z52 1147 Neville Hill T&R.S.M.D to Newton Heath T.M.D. - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S90567/2026-06-07/detailed

14/06/2026:
5Z51 0929 Newton Heath T.M.D. to Neville Hill T&R.S.M.D - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S90570/2026-06-14/detailed
5Z52 1147 Neville Hill T&R.S.M.D to Newton Heath T.M.D. - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S90569/2026-06-14/detailed

21/06/2026:
5Z51 0929 Newton Heath T.M.D. to Neville Hill T&R.S.M.D - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S90572/2026-06-21/detailed
5Z52 1147 Neville Hill T&R.S.M.D to Newton Heath T.M.D. - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:S90571/2026-06-21/detailed

 

[Killingworth]

Agreed.

In the next 5 years Northern risks having issues that make 2018 timetable fiasco look like a picnic.

This old fleet isn’t going to last given they’ve got issues with other trains, that on top of the fact they don’t have the capacity for the natural growth let along the 30 by 30 they are pushing to get.

30 by 30 is a commendable aim see; https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/about-us/performance/30-by-30 By a combination of measures to allocate rolling stock and crews to busiest points and fare tweaking to encourage greater use of quieter trains it should be doable - although it's unclear how an apparent 33% increase would impact on the busiest parts of the network.

My local station has achieved a 20% year on year increase in each of the last 3 years. A 30% increase should be very doable here. Clearly that 30 by 30 target will require close attention to hot spots - and one of them will be keeping all the aging units running before any new units come into service - not before 2031!

 

[Soft Hands]

Was cancelled

Realtime Trains | 5N31 1532 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Newton Heath T.M.D. | 26/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5N31 1532 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Newton Heath T.M.D. on 26/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Ran today, 150210.

 

[GhostManDN91]

Definitely interesting, I'm guessing with these swaps we should see more 150/2s at Wigan Wallgate then eventually?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Definitely interesting, I'm guessing with these swaps we should see more 150/2s at Wigan Wallgate then eventually?

Yes, sounds like it'll be 17 /1s and 25 /2s based at Newton Heath, so more /2s than /1s.
In addition to 32 156s, that's 57 units with through gangways and 17 without, assuming chosen at random (which they aren't - there are certain diagrams 156s are more likely for), it'll be a ~60% chance of a double unit having a corridor the whole way through.

I wouldn't be suprised if there's a bias towards having /1s together or solo with 156s and /2s more common together to maximise corridor usage.

 

[bigmanaiq]

Yes, sounds like it'll be 17 /1s and 25 /2s based at Newton Heath, so more /2s than /1s.
In addition to 32 156s, that's 57 units with through gangways and 17 without, assuming chosen at random (which they aren't - there are certain diagrams 156s are more likely for), it'll be a ~60% chance of a double unit having a corridor the whole way through.

I wouldn't be suprised if there's a bias towards having /1s together or solo with 156s and /2s more common together to maximise corridor usage.

Would it not be the other way around? /1s on their own and /2s with 156s? Or are the gangways not compatible on those

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Would it not be the other way around? /1s on their own and /2s with 156s? Or are the gangways not compatible on those

Sorry, bad phrasing there. I was saying 150/1s should be on their own or with other 150/1s, and 150/2s with other 150/2s or 156s.

Yes 150/2s gangways are comparable with 156s, I've used them before.

 

[Viscount702]

If a 156 and a 150/2 or 2 x 150/2 were together would they fit on all platforms on the Clitheroe line.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

If a 156 and a 150/2 or 2 x 150/2 were together would they fit on all platforms on the Clitheroe line.

A pair of 150/2s is 80 metres, a 156+150/2 is 85, 156+156 is 89.5 so:

Ramsgreave and Wilpshire - Yes (97 metres)
Langho - No (74 metres)
Whalley - No (74 metres)
Clitheroe - No (74 metres)

So as happens currently, the back unit would be locked out between Ramsgreave and Clitheroe.

 

[Viscount702]

A pair of 150/2s is 80 metres, a 156+150/2 is 85, 156+156 is 89.5 so:

Ramsgreave and Wilpshire - Yes (97 metres)
Langho - No (74 metres)
Whalley - No (74 metres)
Clitheroe - No (74 metres)

So as happens currently, the back unit would be locked out between Ramsgreave and Clitheroe.

Thank you.

 

[Whisky Papa]

Sorry, bad phrasing there. I was saying 150/1s should be on their own or with other 150/1s, and 150/2s with other 150/2s or 156s.

I would hope so too, but this assumes that Newton Heath's 150/1s and 150/2s are going to be diagrammed in separate pools, which has not been the case previously (the most recent diagrams I have access to are June 2024, with NH 401-447 all showing as 150/1).

Can anyone confirm this is the intention, or perhaps it has already been done from May in anticipation of getting the units in place?

 

[jonnyfan]

I would hope so too, but this assumes that Newton Heath's 150/1s and 150/2s are going to be diagrammed in separate pools, which has not been the case previously (the most recent diagrams I have access to are June 2024, with NH 401-447 all showing as 150/1).

Can anyone confirm this is the intention, or perhaps it has already been done from May in anticipation of getting the units in place?

All the Class 150s are out of one pool at Newton Heath in the May 2026 unit diagrams, the Class 156s continue to remain in a separate pool as well.

 

[Whisky Papa]

All the Class 150s are out of one pool at Newton Heath in the May 2026 unit diagrams, the Class 156s continue to remain in a separate pool as well.

Thanks for that - no doubt a lot of disappointed contributors to this thread for a while at least, then, although the average chance of being a 150/2 when needed to couple will have massively increased.

 

[p1ash]

Latest diagrams show 2 more 323s in the fleet and overhauls at Wolverton? Are the 323 refurbs happening then?

 

[diligentdave]

Latest diagrams show 2 more 323s in the fleet and overhauls at Wolverton? Are the 323 refurbs happening then?

Not sure. Word on the street was that some people had been to look at some 323's at Long Marston, but that's unofficial. And the refurbs I don't think will happen because there are still discussions about 323's versus (insert fleet here that cannot be spoken about) swaps.

 

[py_megapixel]

there are still discussions about 323's versus (insert fleet here that cannot be spoken about) swaps.

Fully understand you won't be able to comment further, but did a 350 do some test runs to Glossop a while back or am I making that up? Wonder if something might come of that.

 

[bigmanaiq]

Fully understand you won't be able to comment further, but did a 350 do some test runs to Glossop a while back or am I making that up? Wonder if something might come of that.

Yes it did, however I’m not sure if northern intend to do anything further than what they did

 

[Geeves]

Yes one of the issues was 4 car emu Vs the 3 or 6 car railway that Northern is set up for and then the potential costs of changing the trains that cannot be spoken about from 4 to 3.

 

[david l]

Yes one of the issues was 4 car emu Vs the 3 or 6 car railway that Northern is set up for and then the potential costs of changing the trains that cannot be spoken about from 4 to 3.

What about the 331/1's?

 

[Liam L]

Latest diagrams show 2 more 323s in the fleet and overhauls at Wolverton? Are the 323 refurbs happening then?

The article released at the time stated Northern were looking to take on two extra 323s to cover the refurbishment with a clause in the contract with a option for the extra 2 to refurbished too.

https://www.modernrailways.com/article/class-323-refresh-work-planned

 

[david l]

Latest diagrams show 2 more 323s in the fleet and overhauls at Wolverton? Are the 323 refurbs happening

Fairly sure that these 2 diagrams were also present in at least pre-May 26 diagrams, and have been for some time.

 

[Geeves]

What about the 331/1's?

Unable to used in 8 car formation is what I should've added . So as far the Manchester to Blackpool trains are concerned you'd be getting a capacity downgrade

 

[BurtonM]

did a 350 do some test runs to Glossop a while back or am I making that up?

Yes, it had sandbags on the seats.