Class 185 refurbishment for TPE.

[gimmea50anyday]

Had 185108 on 1F63 today. End numbers have now been removed in favour of the side numbers. If you look at the front ends you can just make out where the numbers were.

 

[hibtastic]

185139 is rocking about with a knackered door. That was fun on the full and standing train out of Manchester yesterday.

 

[driver9000]

The WiFi and media system have been formally launched today under the name Exstream with the Game of Thrones actor who plays Hodor doing the honours on the Anglo-Scottish services (which are currently in a state of collapse due to to flooding at Tebay). It is available free on all 350s and the refurbished 185s.

 

[Uncle Bulgaria]

I am trying to catch one of the refurbished sets between York and Manchester after 3.30pm today (12th October), could anyone please advise if one is rostered? Thank you

 

[Crossforth]

1623 York - Manchester Airport is booked 185150

 

[59CosG95]

The WiFi and media system have been formally launched today under the name Exstream with the Game of Thrones actor who plays Hodor doing the honours on the Anglo-Scottish services (which are currently in a state of collapse due to to flooding at Tebay). It is available free on all 350s and the refurbished 185s.

That'd be Kristian Nairn doing the voiceovers then.

On a slightly more related subject, does anyone happen to know if the names have started appearing on the 185s, or has that plan been quietly dropped?

 

[Uncle Bulgaria]

1623 York - Manchester Airport is booked 185150

Cheers pal - bang on!!

 

[darylyates17]

What is the latest on the interior referbs how many more have been done since the last update

 

[gimmea50anyday]

185141 is now in traffic refurbished. Thats 7 in total so far.

A timelapse video has now been posted on vimeo of a unit beimg refurbished

 

[185143]

I had refurbished 185150 on Saturday-but there was no wifi or Xstream available. The unit was on hire to Northern if that affects it?

 

[gimmea50anyday]

ExStream wasn't working on my unit 1E79 185147 this evening either...

internal email says none of the 185s WiFi is currently operational. 350s unaffected.

then again don't think there's any 350s in service! XD

 

[BMIFlyer]

185111 is now wearing a special Royal British Legion colour scheme.

 

[BurtonM]

Seeing the amount of effort they're going to (the polar opposite of Northern's 150 refurbs) it really irks me that they couldn't omit those tip up seats from the cycle storage.

 

[Bantamzen]

Seeing the amount of effort they're going to (the polar opposite of Northern's 150 refurbs) it really irks me that they couldn't omit those tip up seats from the cycle storage.

I probably know the answer, but why does it irk you? When a unit is running without any cyclists they offer the chance for a few more people to sit down, even if it is just for a portion of their journey. I know some units have vertical racks, but in the case of a 3 car unit it may be that it is just not economical to have these installed, hence the tip up seats.

 

[BurtonM]

Because for the amount the space is used by cyclists, they shouldn't be there, and it's not fair that people keep have to be asked to move out of the seats, from the perspective of people sitting there as well as cyclists.
The mandatory reservations don't even make it any better as we'll still have to ask people to move.
It's poorly signed, it's always got people or luggage in it, the velcro retaining strap is pants, guards seldom enforce it...
All out poor design, and a pet hate of mine as some people might know by now.
150s and Pacers have better provisions...

 

[gimmea50anyday]

as one of those conductors who has to deal with this problem, I fully agree with you. A hanging rack of 3 cycles would actually take up les space and enable 2 standard seats to be fitted

Guess what they are doing on the mk5s....

 

[Bantamzen]

Because for the amount the space is used by cyclists, they shouldn't be there, and it's not fair that people keep have to be asked to move out of the seats, from the perspective of people sitting there as well as cyclists.
The mandatory reservations don't even make it any better as we'll still have to ask people to move.
It's poorly signed, it's always got people or luggage in it, the velcro retaining strap is pants, guards seldom enforce it...
All out poor design, and a pet hate of mine as some people might know by now.
150s and Pacers have better provisions...

Actually technically it is a space that is available to cyclists at the guard's / company's discretion. Taken from TPE's Cycle Charter:

At all times, cycle carriage on TransPennine Express trains is at the discretion of the conductor, and we cannot always guarantee that you will be able to travel with your bike, even if you have a reservation.
Our trains can get extremely busy, especially at peak times and during major events. In line with the National Conditions of Carriage, if the conductor deems it unsafe to carry your bike, you may be asked to leave it at the station, or wait for the next train.
If you are travelling on an Advance Purchase ticket and have a bike reservation, and it is not possible for us to carry the bike on the booked train for the Advance ticket, you will be allowed to travel on the next train on which there is bike space available using your same advanced ticket.

https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travelling-with-us/travelling-with-a-bike

That the 185s were built as 3 car units for use on some of the region's most busy and popular routes is regrettable, but it basically means that space for cycles can only be offered where the service is not heavily loaded with passengers. I think you would find a similar policy being applied if you were with your cycle when a rammed Northern 142 pulls up. The fact that people also use the area for cycles to store luggage is again regrettable, but almost inevitable given that the 185s have precious little luggage space and are used as both commuter and InterCity units, serving a large number of population centres, tourist destinations and even a major airport.

But the bottom line is that for the majority of the time the cycle area isn't used by cyclists, and so providing some additional seating for passengers who would otherwise have to stand is the best use of such limited space. Perhaps when the 68 hauled MKV stock and 802s lands there will be more suitable facilities for cycle storage (I think I've seen vertical racks on the 800s??). So you cannot expect TPE to remove space that is currently utilised primarily by passengers in the refurbs just to keep a relatively small number of cyclists happy whilst many TPE services are still rammed to the gills.

 

[BurtonM]

I hate that they bury that away.
Lately I’ve had a couple of Northern guards tell me to use different parts of the (4 car) train to as marked, but IIRC it was a an ATN Pacer and a Central 150, neither of which have an actual bike space.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Actually technically it is a space that is available to cyclists at the guard's / company's discretion. Taken from TPE's Cycle Charter:



https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travelling-with-us/travelling-with-a-bike

That the 185s were built as 3 car units for use on some of the region's most busy and popular routes is regrettable, but it basically means that space for cycles can only be offered where the service is not heavily loaded with passengers. I think you would find a similar policy being applied if you were with your cycle when a rammed Northern 142 pulls up. The fact that people also use the area for cycles to store luggage is again regrettable, but almost inevitable given that the 185s have precious little luggage space and are used as both commuter and InterCity units, serving a large number of population centres, tourist destinations and even a major airport.

But the bottom line is that for the majority of the time the cycle area isn't used by cyclists, and so providing some additional seating for passengers who would otherwise have to stand is the best use of such limited space. Perhaps when the 68 hauled MKV stock and 802s lands there will be more suitable facilities for cycle storage (I think I've seen vertical racks on the 800s??). So you cannot expect TPE to remove space that is currently utilised primarily by passengers in the refurbs just to keep a relatively small number of cyclists happy whilst many TPE services are still rammed to the gills.

Quite. I've heard some make the same argument about wheelchair spaces, but the obvious difference there is choice. You're not forced to bring your bike on the train. I'm not sure if it's still the case, but I remember reading that even cycle-friendly countries such as The Netherlands don't/didn't allow cycles to be taken on board most services.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The North are rapidly gaining leather seats in first (TPEX, VTEC, VT 221, SR HSTs) while we in the south are losing them (GWR)

 

[BurtonM]

I remember reading that even cycle-friendly countries such as The Netherlands don't/didn't allow cycles to be taken on board most services.

Not true, but you do need a ticket:

Bicycle on the train


With a Bicycle day ticket, you are permitted to bring your bicycle/recumbent/racing bicycle or tandem with you in the designated area of the train. The following rules apply here:

• You can bring your bicycle on weekdays between 09:00 and 16:00, and after 18:30. It is not permitted to bring your bicycle during rush hour due to limited space. During the weekend and in the months July and August, you may bring your bicycle into the train all day.
• You can bring your bicycle along with you aboard all domestic NS trains and the Intercity direct.
• In all cases, there must be sufficient space. Especially in the summer, it can get very busy in the train, and it is possible that you will not be allowed to bring your bicycle on board.
• Always remove your luggage (panniers, etc.) from your bicycle, so that there will be space for other bicycles!
• You may bring a folding bicycle with you on the train for no extra charge, even during rush hour.

 

[Bantamzen]

I hate that they bury that away.
Lately I’ve had a couple of Northern guards tell me to use different parts of the (4 car) train to as marked, but IIRC it was a an ATN Pacer and a Central 150, neither of which have an actual bike space.

I wouldn't say its exactly buried, from their home page the "Travelling With Us" link on the menu bar at the top of the page takes you to a number of sub-categories including bringing bikes, luggage etc on-board.

And I have to say that the pictures they've used for the sub-pages makes the refurbished 185s look very smart indeed, especially First Class. I'm next due on one in a few weeks so I'm hoping that at least one of my journeys will be covered with one. Sadly I'll be booking too early to be able to ask on unit diagrams so its going to be pot luck.

 

[BurtonM]

I have never had any need to be on TPE's website.

They are smart! I really like the new interiors, the above notwithstanding.

 

[boyaloud]

ANyone know if a refurbished 185 is on a Liverpool to Manchester diagram on Saturday evening? Thanks.

 

[mikemcniven]

ANyone know if a refurbished 185 is on a Liverpool to Manchester diagram on Saturday evening? Thanks.

Units for services don't get allocated until the morning of the service

 

[yorksrob]

Because for the amount the space is used by cyclists, they shouldn't be there, and it's not fair that people keep have to be asked to move out of the seats, from the perspective of people sitting there as well as cyclists.
The mandatory reservations don't even make it any better as we'll still have to ask people to move.
It's poorly signed, it's always got people or luggage in it, the velcro retaining strap is pants, guards seldom enforce it...
All out poor design, and a pet hate of mine as some people might know by now.
150s and Pacers have better provisions...

Is a bycicle not just a big bit of luggage, in the context of rail travel ?

 

[Bayum]

I’m on the 0809 from Leeds to Liverpool and my god, reading some of the the comments on here regarding overcrowded don’t do the comments justice. We’ve left people behind at Leeds, Dewsbrury, and even a few at Huddersfield!! I’ve never seen anything like it aside from in London!

 

[pdq]

I’m on the 0809 from Leeds to Liverpool and my god, reading some of the the comments on here regarding overcrowded don’t do the comments justice. We’ve left people behind at Leeds, Dewsbrury, and even a few at Huddersfield!! I’ve never seen anything like it aside from in London!

To be fair, that's unusual. It is normally absolutely rammed between Dewsbury and Huddersfield with students in the main, but clears out at Huddersfield. There's a Northern stopper just a few minutes ahead of it but that gets overtaken by the TPE between Mirfield and Deighton, so a great number of commuters wait for the TPE to get to work 10 minutes earlier.
This is just one of those services which - generally speaking - could be 6 carriages for just 20 minutes of its journey, but doesn't need to be for the rest of its journey.

 

[Bayum]

To be fair, that's unusual. It is normally absolutely rammed between Dewsbury and Huddersfield with students in the main, but clears out at Huddersfield. There's a Northern stopper just a few minutes ahead of it but that gets overtaken by the TPE between Mirfield and Deighton, so a great number of commuters wait for the TPE to get to work 10 minutes earlier.
This is just one of those services which - generally speaking - could be 6 carriages for just 20 minutes of its journey, but doesn't need to be for the rest of its journey.

I genuinely believe it was so busy at both those stations to make me late into Piccadilly to get my connection. It was already threatening to throw things out for me being 4 down at Cross Gates, but we just didn’t seem to make up the time! The train seemed to go a lot slower throughout the whole journey than I remember.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

185111, this years TPE/RBL liveried unit while working 1F73 was the unit involved in the fatality at Darlington earlier today.