EMR Class 222’s - declining reliability

[Wyrleybart]

Achieved timings suggest one or both units started the day underpowered. I guess if one of the units had only been on three engines and lost one climbing Sharnbrook, then that would have caused air issues?

Do 222s have the same configuration as 220 and 221 where there are no compressors on the driving cars ?
TIA

 

[westcoaster]

Are the 222s going to require a thunderbird loco back to Derby or will they be able to do it under their own power/another 222’s power?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Feb 2026 ==

5Y11 turned into 1Z10 to hopefully head back north to Wellingborough or Kettering, no sight of any 0Z99 locos anywhere

1535 - 1Z10 is moving as of 1535, headed north
1540 - 1Z10 arrived into Wellingborough P1
1548 - 1Z10 moving north out of Wellingborough on the slow lines now
1555 - 1C94 turned into 5Z94
1558 - 1Z10 into Kettering

1Z10 has now gone back south as the
1606 non stop to St Pancras
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:51723/2026-02-01/detailed

Total delay around 5 hours.

 

[Railperf]

Interestingly, one of the units involved today was 222007 - previously reported as only operating on 3 engines on 23 Jan and failing at Kettering after losing a third engine out of five and failing to produce enough air that day. Is it likely the same happened today?

 

[800001]

1Z10 has now gone back south as the
1606 non stop to St Pancras
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:51723/2026-02-01/detailed

Total delay around 5 hours.

That's a very long day for people who were on the train!

 

[Amos390]

Looks like we’ve got 222022 back today after yesterdays chaos, but 007 remains stuck in Derby, indicating that 007 was likely the issue

 

[Railperf]

Looks like we’ve got 222022 back today after yesterdays chaos, but 007 remains stuck in Derby, indicating that 007 was likely the issue

Is there any indication of the exact fault yet?

 

[222001]

Seems another very bad day for 222 availability - only 15/22 allocated so far.

 

[Railperf]

How many normally required taking into account the fact that three diagrams are now 810 operated?

 

[222001]

How many normally required taking into account the fact that three diagrams are now 810 operated?

Before 810s came along, the requirement was 24/27 sets. So it's technically 21/22 now - however, two services (0630 SHF-STP + 1732 STP-SHF) have been short formed for the past 3 months or so, so the aim seems to be 20/22 at the moment.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Before 810s came along, the requirement was 24/27 sets. So it's technically 21/22 now - however, two services (0630 SHF-STP + 1732 STP-SHF) have been short formed for the past 3 months or so, so the aim seems to be 20/22 at the moment.

But is it four of the five 7 car sets have been stood down ?

 

[222001]

But is it four of the five 7 car sets have been stood down ?

222001-222005 have all been stood down now. Remaining fleet is 006-023 + 101-104.

Just to update the 1200/1435/1700 ex Sheffield, and 0932/1202/1432/1932 ex London, are now all showing cancelled throughout due to no available trains.

 

[Wyrleybart]

222001-222005 have all been stood down now. Remaining fleet is 006-023 + 101-104.

Just to update the 1200/1435/1700 ex Sheffield, and 0932/1202/1432/1932 ex London, are now all showing cancelled throughout due to no available trains.

Thanks for that. So there are a total of 22 class 222s to cover all diagrams except presumably three class 810 programmes.

 

[Amos390]

Is there any indication of the exact fault yet?

Not exactly, however yesterday's fault was specified as being a traction fault, so presuming something to do with that. Clearly it was 007 that was the main culprit though

 

[ALEMASTER]

Some reports of EMR's customer experience at St Pancras on the Sheffield Online Facebook page... https://www.facebook.com/share/15m2Ev5geJ/

Talk of multiple cancellations, huge queues with no information or staff, crush loaded trains, suspended reservations...

 

[Railperf]

Slight improvement on yesterday - with 17/22 sets available at the start of the day. Units 007, 013, 015 and 018 having been out of action for the last couple of days. 007 was the unit involved in Sunday's breakdown and the Kettering failure (down to two engines) the week before. It was six units out of action yesterday. Is it true 20 units required for the days diagrams?

Looks like the 0857 arrival into St Pancras from Lincoln is a single set, leaving a question mark over the 935 St Pancras to Nottingham, which would normally be served by the second unit. Checking which other diagrams are affected, but RTT not showing any cancellations at this stage.

 

[ajp999]

Five cancellations listed on the EMR website including the 0935 to Nottingham as well as a number of short formations.

 

[Railperf]

Five cancellations listed on the EMR website including the 0935 to Nottingham as well as a number of short formations.

Yes, looks like the 610 Nottingham to St Panacras, 646 Nottingham to St Pancras and the 812 Nottingham to St Pancras are the short formed services today southbound. Only one double set starts the day on 1B16 fron Lincoln/ Nottingham. I haven't checked the evening returns.

 

[222001]

Yes, looks like the 610 Nottingham to St Panacras, 646 Nottingham to St Pancras and the 812 Nottingham to St Pancras are the short formed services today southbound. Only one double set starts the day on 1B16 fron Lincoln/ Nottingham. I haven't checked the evening returns.

1735/1835 short formed northbound today. Although it looks like the 1835 has no units at attached to it yet. Suppose that accounts for the 3 units they're short of today.

 

[Railperf]

1735/1835 short formed northbound today. Although it looks like the 1835 has no units at attached to it yet. Suppose that accounts for the 3 units they're short of today.

True, but previously some of the now 5-car trains would have been formed by a 7-car unit -probably at least three diagrams. It's been said that some other diagrams were double set before the 180's were sent away. Assuming that three daily diagrams were prviously 7 car, and that three diagrams today are shortformed due to the lack of a second unit, that would be at least six shorter trains today - a fair chunk of the morning peak arrival. Someone with more time than me can calculate how many seats are missing on services that would probably be reasonably full. And those peak morning tickets are not cheap. Neither is a season ticket!

 

[liamf656]

True, but previously some of the now 5-car trains would have been formed by a 7-car unit -probably at least three diagrams. It's been said that some other diagrams were double set before the 180's were sent away. Assuming that three daily diagrams were prviously 7 car, and that three diagrams today are shortformed due to the lack of a second unit, that would be at least six shorter trains today - a fair chunk of the morning peak arrival. Someone with more time than me can calculate how many seats are missing on services that would probably be reasonably full. And those peak morning tickets are not cheap. Neither is a season ticket!

Not sure how you got 6 short forms from 3 missing units. 7 cars are irrelevant now as those services are covered by 810s, which have more standard class seats. When we had the 180s we had two more 10 car trains (0748 off Notts and 0837 off Sheffield, and 1635/1702 off London), all of which were very lightly loaded every day so I wouldn't say that's massively relevant either

 

[Railperf]

Not sure how you got 6 short forms from 3 missing units. 7 cars are irrelevant now as those services are covered by 810s, which have more standard class seats. When we had the 180s we had two more 10 car trains (0748 off Notts and 0837 off Sheffield, and 1635/1702 off London), all of which were very lightly loaded every day so I wouldn't say that's massively relevant either

Still less seats overall in a 5-car 810 only half the first class seats - in spite of the fact that standard class seat count has not regressed. I'm not sure how well loaded first class would be on those services. To the aerage traveller, a 7-car replaced by a five car looks a shorter train. But I take your point.

 

[InTheEastMids]

True, but previously some of the now 5-car trains would have been formed by a 7-car unit -probably at least three diagrams. It's been said that some other diagrams were double set before the 180's were sent away. Assuming that three daily diagrams were prviously 7 car, and that three diagrams today are shortformed due to the lack of a second unit, that would be at least six shorter trains today - a fair chunk of the morning peak arrival. Someone with more time than me can calculate how many seats are missing on services that would probably be reasonably full. And those peak morning tickets are not cheap. Neither is a season ticket!

There seemed to be a month or two around Christmas where EMR were managing to get all except one of the available Cl222 out on a weekday, which I think was an impressive effort and way above what other IC operators seemed to be doing to run their timetables.

However, with 22 Cl222 still at EMR, instead of having 21 in use, yesterday and today it seems to be down at ~17/22. This might suggest the dam has burst a bit on a maintenance/repair backlog that was building up.

Obviously the current weekend demand due to ECML closures is just scooping an extra dollop of customer misery onto the situation.

we had two more 10 car trains (0748 off Notts and 0837 off Sheffield, and 1635/1702 off London), all of which were very lightly loaded every day

Not disputing this, however the real priority at this point (particularly relating to 222 reliability) is fixing EMR's inability to consistently provide 10-cars for key services like the 1902 London-Sheffield (Although as an aside, in a world of flexible working, the 0748 is pretty much the last train I would choose to catch to London)

Would also point out that numbers at EMR IC stations was, in 24/25, about 20% ahead of 22/23 (180s left in May 23). Accepting that this beermat calc ignores all the dynamics of real life, but a 10-car that was a 40% full in 22/23 means a 96% full 5-car in 24/25, and given 3% YoY growth reported in most recent operator stats, is probably ~100% full in 25/26 (or, more optimistically, ~80% full if it's an 810!)

 

[Taunton]

It does seem to be quite a regular trend that towards the end of a fleet's time the availability drops well off. But not always, and informed discussions elsewhere have pointed to management keen-ness, or the opposite, is a lot to do with it. Component failure rates no more then previously, but the spares have not been stocked. Budgets not reassessed, they have been zeroed for the old fleet, which is now continuing. There have been a few documented situations where a change of management during such moments has led to a notable uptick in performance.

Incidentally, one reads here and elsewhere about trains being sent out with one (or more) engines already out of action, it's almost as if having multiple underfloor engines in a train is now seen as excessive and not needing to keep them all going. It's a good thing airlines don't have this approach. Some reports are the reason for the failure is nothing more advanced than running out of fuel. Now back with modernisation plan dmus I can never recall one in service with engines cut out, let alone more than one, it's a modern phenomenon. It also has extended to diagrams for doubled sets being seen as easy meat to minimise to a single unit.

 

[D365]

Now back with modernisation plan dmus I can never recall one in service with engines cut out, let alone more than one, it's a modern phenomenon. It also has extended to diagrams for doubled sets being seen as easy meat to minimise to a single unit.

I think Class 150 was the first diesel unit where it was formally mandated that loss of one engine should not prevent a 2 or 3 car unit from running. Albeit the loss of a 15x engine results in 'degraded' performance in order so that the unit can finish its diagram and/or return to depot.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I think Class 150 was the first diesel unit where it was formally mandated that loss of one engine should not prevent a 2 or 3 car unit from running in a 'degraded' mode. In order so that the unit could finish its diagram and/or return to depot.

Don't you mean should prevent it from running in a degraded mode? i.e. having the one engine out but still able to run as normal? Or am I misunderstanding?

 

[D365]

Don't you mean should prevent it from running in a degraded mode? i.e. having the one engine out but still able to run as normal? Or am I misunderstanding?

Edited to correct/clarify.

 

[3RDGEN]

Don't you mean should prevent it from running in a degraded mode? i.e. having the one engine out but still able to run as normal? Or am I misunderstanding?

If you lose an engine your in a degraded mode the question is can you enter service or remain in service in that condition, in the case off 222 it's clearly been decided by EMR you can. BR sent Deltics out with "one engine" restrictions in place 40+ years ago so it's nothing new.

 

[westcoaster]

Looking at this failures previous working, it lost 30 mins arriving into Sheffield. Maybe something different. Or a pre cursor.

Realtime Trains | 1F99 0825 Derby to Sheffield | 01/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 1F99 0825 departure from Derby to Sheffield on 01/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[voyagerdude220]

Looking at this failures previous working, it lost 30 mins arriving into Sheffield. Maybe something different. Or a pre cursor.

Realtime Trains | 1F99 0825 Derby to Sheffield | 01/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 1F99 0825 departure from Derby to Sheffield on 01/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The delay on Trust [on 1F99] has been put down to it waiting for a platform to become free at Sheffield. No Traction related causes.

 

[Amos390]

Looks like 222008 has now been pulled from 1B76 at Kettering (Back to etches under 5Z76) m. This one is down to traction too.