Far North Line - 158s?

[AlterEgo]

Hi all,

I'm taking a trip on the Far North Line from Wick to Inverness this summer. I understand it's 158s on this line now.

I know the trains only convey standard class but is there any declassified first class accommodation available? It is four and a half hours...

Cheers.

 

[Highlandspring]

All the Inverness 158s have had their first class sections removed during refurbishment. It was identical to standard class with just the addition of antimacassars and table lamps anyway.

 

[CJSwan]

There is one 158 (one of the Haymarket 8 perhaps?) that came from down south, that is unrefurbished and still has a declassified first class section. Wouldn't recommend sitting in it for 4 minutes, never mind 4 hours! I sat on one once from Aberdeen to Inverness, I would have been more comfortable sitting on a breeze block covered with a tea towel!

 

[gcmozart]

Did this in December, and surprisingly didnt find it uncomfortable - other than the heating not working.

I didnt notice any declassified first class area which confirms previous replies

 

[mushroomchow]

Do tell us if you bump into the oil rig worker with the big Alsatian who lives in Thurso. Got on our service at one of those tiny, glorified bust stop halts somewhere near Dingwall.

He bought everybody pretzels off the trolley then proceeded to get absolutely sprintered by having a dram every time it came by. Made an interesting journey all the more memorable!

To reference the actual question, yes, IIRC the train was made up of 2x 158s. No first class, though I'm sure some of the meeker travellers would have liked some to hide in when the old boy started ranting about the looming Scottish referendum!

 

[Clansman]

I know the trains only convey standard class but is there any declassified first class accommodation available? It is four and a half hours...

They were never special anyway. Less space compared to standard at the expense of a plug socket, curtains, and a lamp. The area is still in the same place and seating layout as it originally was before it was refurbished.

 

[philthetube]

Are the 158 performing well on the line?

 

[Highlandspring]

158s have been on the Far North for nearly 20 years now and they perform no better or worse than the 158s anywhere else on the ScotRail network. Agood one will fly, a bad one will crawl. They suffer from the usual.. engines idling or cutting out, low power, overheating, loss of hydro, blown fire bottles etc but its exactly the same sort of issues that cause 158s to fail in the Waverley every day (though the IS ones seem less prone to door faults than the HA ones for some reason).

 

[BestWestern]

158s have been on the Far North for nearly 20 years now and they perform no better or worse than the 158s anywhere else on the ScotRail newtwork.nA good one will fly, a bad one will crawl. They suffer from the usual.. engines idling or cutting out, low power, overheating, loss of hydro, blown fire bottles etc but its exactly the same sort of issues that cause 158s to fail in the Waverley every day (though the IS ones seem less prone to door faults than the HA ones for some reason).

"Lack of maintenance" then, to give it a title.

It's a shame that it was only South West Trains who had the batch of magic ones, that miraculously came out of the depot shiny and with everything working properly (even aircon!) every day. Incredible, it was almost as though somebody was looking after them properly...

 

[47271]

158s have been on the Far North for nearly 20 years now and they perform no better or worse than the 158s anywhere else on the ScotRail newtwork.nA good one will fly, a bad one will crawl. They suffer from the usual.. engines idling or cutting out, low power, overheating, loss of hydro, blown fire bottles etc but its exactly the same sort of issues that cause 158s to fail in the Waverley every day (though the IS ones seem less prone to door faults than the HA ones for some reason).

You forgot to mention the useless aircon, never a reason to fail a 158, but often the cause of many a sweaty experience when outside temperatures exceed 15C or in more than 10 minutes of direct sunshine, and to be enjoyed anywhere between Thurso and Tweedbank...