Could the Mid-Cheshire Line Benefit from Class 150/0 Re-formations?

[Rail Quest]

As a regular user of the Mid-Cheshire line, I've become accustomed to the pick'n'mix use of single and double 150/156 sets with minimal consistency. When running with double sets, the rear carriage is locked out of use due to platform lengths and no SDO. when running with single sets, overcrowding can occur during the busier times.

Northern reformed a couple of their 150/1 and 150/2 sets into 3-car 150/0 sets originally for use on the Clitheroe line (if I'm not mistaken) though these now seem to be operating in Yorkshire. Newton Heath still seem to have a couple of 150/2 sets on their books. I'm sure there's at least two as I saw a double set of these at Piccadilly the other day. Could Northern reform more 150s into /0 3-car sets in the same manner and deploy these onto the Mid-Cheshire line?

Benefits of running the line with 150/0 Re-formations:
- Double sets now running as 3-car singles would burn 25% less fuel
- Single sets now running as 3-car singles would have 50% more capacity
- No additional units would need to be sacrificed from other lines to achieve this

 

[yorksrob]

That sounds like a reasonable stop-gap compromise to me, although I think that either platform lengthening or introduction of SDO stock need to be the longer term fix

 

[Bantamzen]

It would be a welcome improvement overall, especially at the moment with the Altrincham tram line closed. Services are filling up a lot at Hale, Altrincham and Navigation Road in the morning peaks, and in the opposite direction in the afternoons.

Longer term, if there is no sign of half hourly services through the day then either having a more permanent 3 car service using 158s / 195s once the 150 / 156s are displaced, or a programme to lengthen those platforms unable to handle 4/5 car formations wherever possible should be an aspiration.

 

[skyhigh]

Newton Heath still seem to have a couple of 150/2 sets on their books.

All of the /2s are going to Newton Heath in exchange for /1s going to Neville Hill. Theoretically there's no reason why they can't convert more to 3 cars.

 

[Rail Quest]

It would be a welcome improvement overall, especially at the moment with the Altrincham tram line closed. Services are filling up a lot at Hale, Altrincham and Navigation Road in the morning peaks, and in the opposite direction in the afternoons.

For sure, and it doesn't seem to be limited to mid-week peak times as well. Saturdays seemed consistently very busy between Knutsford and Altrincham before the metrolink engineering works and all the way into Manchester now.

That sounds like a reasonable stop-gap compromise to me, although I think that either platform lengthening or introduction of SDO stock need to be the longer term fix

Completely agree. I imagine the higher ups in Northern and the DfT are now just waiting for the impending new stock order to enact any real improvement on most of the diesel lines out of Manchester.

All of the /2s are going to Newton Heath in exchange for /1s going to Neville Hill. Theoretically there's no reason why they can't convert more to 3 cars.

That's really interesting, is it known why the /2s and /1s are being swapped between the two depots?

 

[Bletchleyite]

That's really interesting, is it known why the /2s and /1s are being swapped between the two depots?

Because 150+156 pairs are common in the North West (as well as pairs of 150s, but 150+156 seems particularly common) and this allows the gangways to be in use and thus improves revenue protection. They far more often operate singly on the east side.

I read this somewhere but forget where.

 

[Bantamzen]

All of the /2s are going to Newton Heath in exchange for /1s going to Neville Hill. Theoretically there's no reason why they can't convert more to 3 cars.

Because 150+156 pairs are common in the North West (as well as pairs of 150s, but 150+156 seems particularly common) and this allows the gangways to be in use and thus improves revenue protection. They far more often operate singly on the east side.

I read this somewhere but forget where.

Yeah I've noticed more 150/2s on the line, including on my commute this morning. It certainly makes sense not only if formed with a 156, but also if they run with another 150/2. At least then passengers in the unit with a locked out carriage can spread down the train a bit if / when it gets busy.

 

[Rail Quest]

Because 150+156 pairs are common in the North West (as well as pairs of 150s, but 150+156 seems particularly common) and this allows the gangways to be in use and thus improves revenue protection. They far more often operate singly on the east side.

I read this somewhere but forget where.

Ahh right that would make some sense. I've not seen the end gangway doors open on double 156s in quite a while so the Northern guards probably need to start opening them again at some point.