Class 142

[yorksrob]

This can vary between areas.

When I travelled to the Headingley area of Leeds from Knutsford a few years back I could have done either of:
1. Frequent bus from Leeds station, costing the relevant bus fare or PlusBus added on to the rail ticket to Leeds.
2. Half-hourly train from Leeds with a slightly longer walk to my destination, costing no extra compared to buying a rail ticket to Leeds.

So I chose number 2.

However, in my local area there isn't really somewhere I could chose to go to where the bus is more frequent than the train.

There is also the third option of walking between Leeds and Headingley (which when I lived there a few years back would often result in me overtaking the bus and leaving it behind due to traffic !)
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When this healthy fifteen minute walking option in all sorts of weathers eventually sees you arriving at the railway station, how often is the frequency of the rail service ?

Unlike your good self who appears to be blessed with good health, there are others somewhat older and not as fit who would view a fifteen minute walk to a railway station a big incentive to use the bus. Holders of ENTCS passes have even less reason to forsake a bus service that is free to use after 0930 Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.

It's actually an hourly train service (the station could probably justify half hourly, but the PTE's are sniffy about stopping their fast trains there), however I never turn up on chance.

Undoubtedly poor health might change this, but for myself at the moment, a brisk walk and speedy train journey wins out. I have to shell out for a metrocard for my commute, so both the train and bus are effectively "free" at the point of use.

 

[Rapidash]

I'm going to make a prediction, if I may:

The last National Rail service to be operated by a Pacer will be in Devon.

Thanks for that spectacularly depressing thought.

I don't mind the 143's if I manage to nab the seat with the folding ramp.Which seems to be working pretty well. Only two seats on the thing with legroom (I'm 6'3) where I won't be asked to be moved to make way for a bike.

Always a fun experience going along the Dawlish wall in a storm on one, especially if the windows are loose.

My backside does take issue when I need to go all the way to Exmouth, though!

 

[ainsworth74]

The last National Rail service to be operated by a Pacer will be in Devon.

My money is on Teesside personally short of a minor miracle I just don't see the lines around here ever warranting better stock, not when the queue is as long as it is, until other areas have seen improvements.

So, do you fancy a wager

 

[YorkshireBear]

My money is on Teesside personally short of a minor miracle I just don't see the lines around here ever warranting better stock, not when the queue is as long as it is, until other areas have seen improvements.

So, do you fancy a wager

Ah but as the Whitby line requires not pacers maybe a self contained fleet of sprinters for Teeside while other routes turn to EMU

I would bet against it being teeside and bet on it being the lines around Manchester such as to Southport.

 

[northwichcat]

My money is on Teesside personally short of a minor miracle I just don't see the lines around here ever warranting better stock, not when the queue is as long as it is, until other areas have seen improvements.

So, do you fancy a wager

I personally wouldn't be surprised if it's a PTE area that's last to see Pacers. The reason I'm saying this is a cascade or new order could be done as a like for like replacement (see the LM 172s as an example) but the PTE area is more likely to need more than a like for like replacement to allow for growth. Remember that the 101s and 308s ended their lives in PTE areas - Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire respectively.

 

[Eagle]

Interesting you say that, when your first example (172s) was a like-for-like replacement in a PTE area that didn't result in the retention of the originals.

 

[northwichcat]

Interesting you say that, when your first example (172s) was a like-for-like replacement in a PTE area that didn't result in the retention of the originals.

I thought that is what happened?

LM ordered 69 class 172 vehicles to replace 69 class 150 vehicles. However, as well as the 69 new vehicles they retained 3 x 2 car 150s but gave up 3 x 153s instead, giving them a net gain of 3 carriages by retaining older stock instead of ordering an additional new 3 car train.

 

[Eagle]

Ordering 69 vehicles and resulting in a net gain of 3 vehicles isn't retaining the old units for growth, in my opinion.

 

[northwichcat]

Ordering 69 vehicles and resulting in a net gain of 3 vehicles isn't retaining the old units for growth, in my opinion.

They tried to retain more but DfT told them they'd have to release 153s to FGW if they wanted to keep some 150s.

If the proposed order for 200 or so DMUs for Northern/FGW/TPE had gone ahead I imagine LM could have hung on to a larger number but without that order there is a DMU shortage currently.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Suggested work-song for all the maintenance stalwarts working on the Class 142 fleet at Newton Heath...

One day at a time, sweet diesels,
That's all I'm asking of you,
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday's gone, sweet diesels
And tomorrow may never be thine
Just help me today, show me the way,
One day at a time.

With apologies to Cristy Lane

 

[Dunc108]

Ah but as the Whitby line requires not pacers maybe a self contained fleet of sprinters for Teeside while other routes turn to EMU

I would bet against it being teeside and bet on it being the lines around Manchester such as to Southport.

Theres some tight curves out of Southport Chapel Street, particularly around St Lukes/Meols Cop, they certainly give the 142 flanges a good workout before hitting the dead straight section around Bescar Lane!