Class 222 on an EMR Regional service

[tram21]

This evening a Class 222 operated a local EMR service Nottingham-Leicester (all stations), shown on RTT below (this has been verified too, not just going off RTT!)

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W22258/2025-05-17/detailed

Has this happened before? The Meridians are not cleared on some of the lines (e.g. Matlock line), and have operated dedicated services on Regional lines previously (e.g. Derby-Uttoxeter for the races). But has it happened almost 'out of the blue' like this was before? Interested to hear!

 

[tsyxa]

I imagine this is due to stock shortages - one user said that EMR was only running half its regional fleet today. It has happened before definitely on EMT, this might be the first instance of it happening with east mids railway though.

As a side note does anyone know how it works stopping at barrow sileby and syston? Do the crew lock out the rear 3 carriages, or is it just simply SDO?

 

[tram21]

Its actually not due to stock shortages I'm told! It was due to there being no Regional driver avaliable, but there was an Intercity one avaliable so instead of cancelling it, they used a '222'. Quite impressive by EMR may I say...

It was operated by the Derby based driver, the booked senior conductor and a Train Manager too (who sign the stock).

 

[LowLevel]

This evening a Class 222 operated a local EMR service Nottingham-Leicester (all stations), shown on RTT below (this has been verified too, not just going off RTT!)

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W22258/2025-05-17/detailed

Has this happened before? The Meridians are not cleared on some of the lines (e.g. Matlock line), and have operated dedicated services on Regional lines previously (e.g. Derby-Uttoxeter for the races). But has it happened almost 'out of the blue' like this was before? Interested to hear!

A 222 has been to Matlock in service before, it was subbed for the booked 153 when Queen Elizabeth II went up there by rail about 10 years ago. Since the river bridge at Whatstandwell was repaired the route restrictions have been removed.

Yes it has, it just doesn't get that much publicity.

 

[tram21]

As a side note does anyone know how it works stopping at barrow sileby and syston? Do the crew lock out the rear 3 carriages, or is it just simply SDO?

The 222s have SDO which is used frequently. They will have just used SDO.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 May 2025 ==

Since the river bridge at Whatstandwell was repaired the route restrictions have been removed.

So they can actually go to Matlock? I didn't know that!

 

[LowLevel]

The 222s have SDO which is used frequently. They will have just used SDO.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 May 2025 ==


So they can actually go to Matlock? I didn't know that!

There is a less than stunning photo here in this news article from the time of the 222 in Matlock station, recognisable only from the wooden fence

https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/full-report-queens-visit-to-matlock-2278761

I don't believe one has been since though.

 

[tram21]

There is a less than stunning photo here in this news article from the time of the 222 in Matlock station, recognisable only from the wooden fence

https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/full-report-queens-visit-to-matlock-2278761

I don't believe one has been since though.

I suppose they didn't want to put her on a rickety 153, a 222 probably seemed more luxurious!!

Didn't realise this happened though- very interesting!

 

[Wyrleybart]

Its actually not due to stock shortages I'm told! It was due to there being no Regional driver avaliable, but there was an Intercity one avaliable so instead of cancelling it, they used a '222'. Quite impressive by EMR may I say...

It was operated by the Derby based driver, the booked senior conductor and a Train Manager too (who sign the stock).

This kind of thing was done by XC when short of a unit or a "guard". Only Senior Conductors can work a class 170, so if XC are short of a 170 or a Snr Conductor they would use a voyager and a Train Manager who signed the route. In the case of the odd visit of an XC class 170 to Manchester a willing Snr Conductor traction-conducted the TM, or the TM route conducted the Snr Conductor. That was back when there were occasional spare 170s on a daily basis.

 

[liamf656]

This evening a Class 222 operated a local EMR service Nottingham-Leicester (all stations), shown on RTT below (this has been verified too, not just going off RTT!)

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W22258/2025-05-17/detailed

Has this happened before? The Meridians are not cleared on some of the lines (e.g. Matlock line), and have operated dedicated services on Regional lines previously (e.g. Derby-Uttoxeter for the races). But has it happened almost 'out of the blue' like this was before? Interested to hear!

It happened a couple of months back as well, but given that 222s used to be common on the Leicester to Lincoln stopper there aren't as many problems as you'd think

On a side note 222s have worked many regional services in place of the usual units. You'd occasionally see one on the Crewe to Derby service before the pandemic, and sometimes the odd Notts to Derby service vice Sprinter

 

[stadler]

I imagine this is due to stock shortages - one user said that EMR was only running half its regional fleet today. It has happened before definitely on EMT, this might be the first instance of it happening with east mids railway though.

As a side note does anyone know how it works stopping at barrow sileby and syston? Do the crew lock out the rear 3 carriages, or is it just simply SDO?

They use SDO on the 222s. Sensibly these were fitted with SDO from new unlike on the 220s and 221s which have none.



SDO is operated by the driver. The driver can select any number of coaches on the SDO panel in the cab of the 222s.

 

[westcoaster]

It happened a couple of months back as well, but given that 222s used to be common on the Leicester to Lincoln stopper there aren't as many problems as you'd think

On a side note 222s have worked many regional services in place of the usual units. You'd occasionally see one on the Crewe to Derby service before the pandemic, and sometimes the odd Notts to Derby service vice Sprinter

You'd occasionally see them going to Liverpool when the grand national is on at Aintree.

 

[baz962]

I imagine this is due to stock shortages - one user said that EMR was only running half its regional fleet today. It has happened before definitely on EMT, this might be the first instance of it happening with east mids railway though.

As a side note does anyone know how it works stopping at barrow sileby and syston? Do the crew lock out the rear 3 carriages, or is it just simply SDO?

SDO used daily. Shortest 222 is 5 car since the 4 cars went and we can only open 4 at Long Eaton. 7 and ten car units also stop there and Beeston which is 6 max .

 

[LowLevel]

It happened a couple of months back as well, but given that 222s used to be common on the Leicester to Lincoln stopper there aren't as many problems as you'd think

On a side note 222s have worked many regional services in place of the usual units. You'd occasionally see one on the Crewe to Derby service before the pandemic, and sometimes the odd Notts to Derby service vice Sprinter

They don't really like stopping services but they aren't terrible - when we had a 222 diagram on the Leicester - Lincoln circuit in EMT days 95% of the time it was a 222/1 4 car set that was booked to sit spare (it occasionally went on an outing to Crewe as well). I believe the only thing that was done one of the braking systems was isolated because it was overheating being in use constantly braking from lower speeds (presumably the rheostatic brake) given they topped out at 75 mph and the usual cruising speed was more like 60.

 

[tom1649]

A 222 has been to Matlock in service before, it was subbed for the booked 153 when Queen Elizabeth II went up there by rail about 10 years ago. Since the river bridge at Whatstandwell was repaired the route restrictions have been removed.

Yes it has, it just doesn't get that much publicity.

In addition to this, at least one has been to Matlock during the Matlock Bath Illuminations.

 

[duffield]

I suppose they didn't want to put her on a rickety 153, a 222 probably seemed more luxurious!!

Didn't realise this happened though- very interesting!

She had the 1st class end/driving coach reserved, with appropriate security as you might expect. I know since I was in the next coach, on my way to work!

 

[43055]

Had a 222 a couple of times on the Derby - Crewe services. Normally with first class to myself

 

[Trainman40083]

Had a 222 a couple of times on the Derby - Crewe services. Normally with first class to myself

Yes, me too. Railway staff sit in the first class, cos normal passes think they are now allowed.

 

[High Dyke]

This evening a Class 222 operated a local EMR service Nottingham-Leicester (all stations), shown on RTT below (this has been verified too, not just going off RTT!)

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W22258/2025-05-17/detailed

Has this happened before? The Meridians are not cleared on some of the lines (e.g. Matlock line), and have operated dedicated services on Regional lines previously (e.g. Derby-Uttoxeter for the races). But has it happened almost 'out of the blue' like this was before? Interested to hear!

Yes. In 2016 a 5-car set was diagrammed to work a Leicester - Lincoln diagram on the Saturday of Lincoln Christmas market. Caused no end of problems at Newark Castle, due to fouling the level crossing during its station call on the way to Lindum Colonia. People missed the train because of it, and the TOC response was to advise people to arrive earlier.

Newark Castle station has no footbridge between the two platforms, you cross by the level crossing.