153s coming off lease

[PHILIPE]

Where do I start?

153s are only cleared for P3 at Salisbury.
The main objection however is that tacking a 75mph unit on to a 90mph unit would do nothing for timekeeping or be welcome on the run into Waterloo. Plus 153s do have the tendency to accelerate from stops with all the vim and vigour of a constipated snail....

No. The other way round. Platform 3 is the only one they are barred from.

 

[iantherev]

No. The other way round. Platform 3 is the only one they are barred from.

Now you know why I don’t gamble.....

 

[The_Engineer]

They should let SWR have them. 3 carriages on the peak hour 0820/1020 services to Exeter over the bank holiday. Rammed. 158/159/153 would work well together too. 153s (or indeed 450s) could displace a 158 from the Lymington branch, and could strengthen the busier services.

I think you've made a better case for them having more Class 158s! I am sure they would not want a mixed fleet......

 

[hexagon789]

I think you've made a better case for them having more Class 158s! I am sure they would not want a mixed fleet......

They can have all the Haymarket 158s gladly

 

[Parallel]

At this stage in time I think the ATW franchise is most desperate. They can replace 150s on select runs so they can have the mods fitted. But let’s be honest, nothing will happen until the current franchise ends this autumn...

 

[hexagon789]

At this stage in time I think the ATW franchise is most desperate. They can replace 150s on select runs so they can have the mods fitted. But let’s be honest, nothing will happen until the current franchise ends this autumn...

Only as two-car sets though. I'd hate to think how bad the overcrowding would be if they replaced two or even four-car 150 setts with 1 or 2-car 153s respectively.

 

[Parallel]

Only as two-car sets though. I'd hate to think how bad the overcrowding would be if they replaced two or even four-car 150 setts with 1 or 2-car 153s respectively.

It wouldn’t be great but you could have 153+14x on Rhymney Valley runs. Then 2 car 14x can replace 150s on Swanline or Cheltenham services, and the 150s freed up for mods. Or you could put 153s on all City Line services as before to release Pacers to cover as above.

 

[hexagon789]

It wouldn’t be great but you could have 153+14x on Rhymney Valley runs. Then 2 car 14x can replace 150s on Swanline or Cheltenham services, and the 150s freed up for mods. Or you could put 153s on all City Line services as before to release Pacers to cover as above.

I'd try and keep the 153s on the quieter lines I think, but joining up with Pacers is also a good idea. Rather forgot about the Pacers!

 

[yorksrob]

They should let SWR have them. 3 carriages on the peak hour 0820/1020 services to Exeter over the bank holiday. Rammed. 158/159/153 would work well together too. 153s (or indeed 450s) could displace a 158 from the Lymington branch, and could strengthen the busier services.

Three carriage services on that line are a bugbear of mine as well, when I'm down that way.

 

[yorkie]

They should let SWR have them. 3 carriages on the peak hour 0820/1020 services to Exeter over the bank holiday. Rammed. 158/159/153 would work well together too. 153s (or indeed 450s) could displace a 158 from the Lymington branch, and could strengthen the busier services.

Would SWR want a mixed fleet? and are you aware 153s can only do 75mph maximum and would cause major timetabling issues if coupled to 159s? I don't think you have thought this through.

Three carriage services on that line are a bugbear of mine as well, when I'm down that way.

But the solution is surely not to attach a class 153?!

 

[yorksrob]

But the solution is surely not to attach a class 153?!

Depends how desperate for stock they are !

Although obviously ideally you'd want something that can come all the way from Waterloo.

 

[D365]

Depends how desperate for stock they are !

How long is the daily lease of a Class 158 unit to GWR expected to continue until?

Other than that, if there is a dire need for diesel units, one would assume the Lymington branch could be restored to EMU operation.

 

[yorksrob]

How long is the daily lease of a Class 158 unit to GWR expected to continue until?

I've no idea, but there seems to be a shortage of them.

 

[PHILIPE]

I've no idea, but there seems to be a shortage of them.

How long is the daily lease of a Class 158 unit to GWR expected to continue until?

Other than that, if there is a dire need for diesel units, one would assume the Lymington branch could be restored to EMU operation.

Until the end of the franchise

 

[cactustwirly]

They should let SWR have them. 3 carriages on the peak hour 0820/1020 services to Exeter over the bank holiday. Rammed. 158/159/153 would work well together too. 153s (or indeed 450s) could displace a 158 from the Lymington branch, and could strengthen the busier services.

There are other franchises that need the 153s more than SWR, like EMT (who have to shortform to allow for PRM mods)

 

[randyrippley]

Good news for us then !

Not really, unless the drivers are coming with them

 

[yorksrob]

Not really, unless the drivers are coming with them

But Northern has plenty of drivers who sign 153's.

 

[cactustwirly]

But Northern has plenty of drivers who sign 153's.

I think @randyrippley was referring to cancellations due to driver shortages.

 

[yorksrob]

I think @randyrippley was referring to cancellations due to driver shortages.

Ah, well we haven't had so many of those over this side (touch wood).

That said, I was on a 156 to Barrow yesterday that was quite busy. Could have done with a nice little 153 on the end.

 

[randyrippley]

I think @randyrippley was referring to cancellations due to driver shortages.

exactly
at the moment Northern's drivers are all off learning to drive other stock

 

[td97]

exactly
at the moment Northern's drivers are all off learning to drive other stock

See this thread for the actual reason (spoiler: they don't have enough drivers to cover their normal timetable, as the previous Rest Day Working agreement ceased)
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/northern-rails-problems-in-lancashire.163590/

 

[a_c_skinner]

Northern's drivers are all off learning to drive other stock

This is a genuine question, no side on it, no hidden sneer. How long does that take? A driver who already drives DMUs learning another one? 153 to 158 conversion say? How long if a passed freight driver learning DMUs?

 

[LowLevel]

This is a genuine question, no side on it, no hidden sneer. How long does that take? A driver who already drives DMUs learning another one? 153 to 158 conversion say? How long if a passed freight driver learning DMUs?

All 15x are a 1 day conversion course from each other.

 

[capital12]

153305+373 seen in service at LDS this evening.

 

[CC 72100]

153305+373 seen in service at LDS this evening.

Casper! Take good care of 305 please

 

[E_Reeves]

I'm glad I managed to get 305 before it got lost in the midst of Northern then

 

[geoffk]

153305+373 seen in service at LDS this evening.

I thought that Northern was losing all its 153s but now understand that some are staying.

 

[ATW158Xpress]

So what units numbers are still with GWR?

 

[Eccles1983]

All 15x are a 1 day conversion course from each other.

Except 158's which is a completely different braking system and requires more than a one day walk around. It's a few days.

 

[507021]

So what units numbers are still with GWR?

153318, 153325/329, 153333, 153361, 153368-370, 153372/377 and 153382.