Recent content by p1ash

Northern are attempting to run 25 diagrams out of 30 available units - 83% availability. The issue seems to be the 3 / 4 units stopped for transformers that is causing current issues? And if c.3 are stopped for transformers - is this a trend for the entire fleet? That said the units that have...

How will the 8 x 20m cars fit on the 6 car x23m platforms (c.143m). Will both doors nearest the front & rear cabs not open with SDO? It’s one full coach that is generally overlength on a 6x323 platform?

I wonder what the future of the 9 ex-WMT units is? If they are scrapped soon, we will know the future of the northern units too (to be mainly returned in 2028). It will also be interesting to see whether the 3 northern units apparently requiring transformers are repaired? It seems a lot of...

323229 has not been seen for almost 5 months. If the future of the 323s is in doubt (due to potential replacement with fleet that can’t be named) is this going to be repaired, presuming it is broken? 323218 & 323342 also been out of service for 3 months.

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

Are the C6s / refurbs due to commence on the 323s? The latest May-Dec diagrams show 36no. in the fleet, with 4no. away at Wolverton for work, so are the 2no. extras actually joining? 1775825185 There’s been a few 323s out of service for quite a few weeks now - 229 not been seen since mid Jan...

Ultimately, there's now 26 323s, 16 331-3 cars, and 11 331-4 cars in use, so in essence a 50/50 split between 323s and 331s in the North West fleet. Previously the 4-car 331s were in Yorkshire, and these have been swopped with 3-car 331s - meaning that there's now less 3-car 331 available in the...

Is this about expectations? 20yrs ago, I remember travelling from Chorley on a 175, which generally served the airport, thinking this was what train travel should be (when they had enough seats), but then enduring a 142, 150, on good days a 156, which served the other services that didn't go to...

Is 323243 likely to make an appearance prior to the internal refurbs starting? Also, anyone know what's up with 323230 - been missing for a few months?

And 217 reappears after a good while (did this have a new transformer along with 243?): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W52207/2025-05-05/detailed#allox_id=0

If all 16 Blackpools are 323, then the other NW diagrams would be covered by 11 323s, 11 331/0 & 10 331/1… (after ones on maintenance) Or if 8 331/0 are on Blackpools releasing 8 323s…. Meaning that half (of the 16) Blackpools are 331/0s and the other half 323s… Being completely fair with...

The NW currently has 18 331s & 20 323s diagrammed daily. Losing circa 7 331s to Yorkshire would suggest that 27 323s will then be required from 34. Historically, 5 323s are generally out of service at a time (from the original fleet of 17) so it wouldn’t be unreasonable to allow 7 323s out at...

I heard that the bridge replacement would facilitate space for installation of a metrolink track…presumably from removal of the pier?

Interesting article in Feb's Modern Railways - "323s-say-bye-bye-brum" : https://www.modernrailways.com/article/323s-say-bye-bye-brum I'm wondering if the refurb on the ex-WM 323s is awaiting the next C6 overhaul - this was last undertaken 2018-2020 - so must be coming back round again...

So, 218 seems to have failed today, and has been dragged back to Allerton with 232 out on test (which failed over the weekend?). Northern have around 20 323s diagrammed, and following Dec timetable change had 21 323s out. Today, again only 15 out? I wonder if the lack of a central overnight...