Unfortunately it’s not just this one failure though. It’s practically daily that one of the 323s fails in or prior to service. There’s a myriad of cancellations and short formations today as a result of a lack of serviceable 323s. I don’t want to turn this into a 323 reliability thread however…
That’s not necessarily got anything to do with a desire for personal space - potentially more a realisation that on a crowded train you stand more chance of making your connection if you’re standing by the door than sat halfway down the carriage. Not excusing it, merely explaining. If I’m only going to be on a train for 5 - 6 minutes, I usually do the same - though admittedly making sure I don’t block the exit or gangway.
why would they do that? the 3 cars would be equivalent to about a 2 and a half coach 323 capacity wise- useful to no-one.
I don’t think that’s correct. The SWT trains went from the original Unit Deselect (aka UDS) ie front 4 of 8, 8 of 12, 4 of 12, 5 from 10, straight to an ASDO system, which work also involved fitting track beacons to nearly all their stations. The ASDO is used for the whole of a service, not just short platforms.
There’s a 150/2 covering a 331/1 on an Alderley Edge diagram today with the 331 on Blackpools instead.
At least 323218,229 & 242 are long term out of use.
If the 323's are to be replaced by the 350/2's shortly you might have thought that the 9 323's stored at Long Marston would be cannibalised/stripped for spares which could help in certain spares availability...unless there's an ogoing user for some 323's?
it's more that those 9 aren't leased by Northern, so they cant utilise or cannibalise them easily. Not to say it's impossible however.
Agree, but as Porterbrook is involved both with the 323 & 350/2 fleets, perhaps 'a deal within a deal' to assist should be done!
I don't think it is what Northern wanted tbf, I mean they did spend a lot of time and money training up Blackpool (and Wigan crews) on 323s.
I'm told that it was spoken about, however it won't solve the transformer issues as they still need to source a part which by sound of it is also difficult to get.
Not great, hopefully 323212 issues yesterday weren't serious and it's back out in traffic ASAP
Ditto with the class 165/6 out of Paddington
Rather a lot of people in Northern aren't particularly pleased with the decision as I understand it. Primarily the reason is because the leasing company is has managed to successfully lobby the department that someone should be paying for them instead of them being off lease.
However it will probably be good for the passenger (especially on weeks like the last thanks to the air con). Unless it leads to some 3+3 services being replaced by 4s, but it's a significant increase in carriages overall (34*3=102 to 37*4=148) so I can't see that happening, I hope to see much fewer 3 car 331s solo (working in 6 car formations), or 8 car 350 services (even better).
Tell me you don't know much about the rolling stock market without telling me you don't know much about the rolling stock market...
Plenty of passengers who use Northern are not best pleased with the operator........west side gives up at the slightest sign of sunshine, joke timetables on a Sunday, 769 reliability leads to cancellation/short-formed rates worst for years on certain routes- the 'new operations manager' apparently seriously tried to say that the 'temporary new Sunday tt introduced' on the west side in Dec 24 (yes, that long ago) was a benefit in that journey plans were 'more certain' and cancellations were down - one hell of a strange interpretation of statistics where gaps of anywhere between 2 and 6 hours are in place.
If that’s all they can say then it’s an admission of the company’s failure. It is, however, also true. Far better to know there’s going to be a 6 hour gap than get somewhere only to discover just as the train disappears that the next one’s going to be in 6 hours’ time.
Would a Stalybridge to Wigan service need much more than a 4 car? You’re somewhat restricted at Stalybridge by the length of the bay platform.
Agree, but it still happens, on the temporary timetable the gaps that in theory are 2 hours but on the day become 4 or 6 hours when the rostered conductor, on Sunday working which is still outside the working week, either goes sick or... for 'another' reason isn't present.
I can understand that to an extent, but what would the alternative decision be? Not taking on the 350s now won't make it any faster to replace the Sprinters!
