Filthy Northern Stock

[Freakofnature]

I'm not anti-Northern, overall I think they do a good job; their staff are a credit to them on the whole. The only areas I think they need to address is cleanliness and train maintenance.

When you think of the fact that alot of Northerns stock is diesel based, they're going to get dirty...


Look at HST Powercars etc.


And when you think that northerns services tend to operate around city areas on short routes, then it's a brainer as to why they get so dirty, inside and outside.

I'd much rather have a dirty train arrive on time, then have it arrive late because it was being washed down.

 

[strange6]

When you think of the fact that alot of Northerns stock is diesel based, they're going to get dirty...


Look at HST Powercars etc.


And when you think that northerns services tend to operate around city areas on short routes, then it's a brainer as to why they get so dirty, inside and outside.

I'd much rather have a dirty train arrive on time, then have it arrive late because it was being washed down.

Point taken my friend but when First where operating in my area, you never saw this problem on their 156's. But you make a valid point all the same

 

[Welshman]

I appreciate all that is being said, but it does seem a pity to ride through the finest scenery in the country but be unable to enjoy it for the grime!

 

[strange6]

I appreciate all that is being said, but it does seem a pity to ride through the finest scenery in the country but be unable to enjoy it for the grime!

Exactly! The Wigan - Southport ride is lovely on a Sunny day!

 

[tbtc]

One other reason not mentioned earlier is there's precious little "spare" at Northern. WIth the exception of the 180s (only two of three diagrammed), most other units are used pretty intensely and Northern don't have the luxury of being able to let significant numbers of units sit in carriage sidings for days

When you are getting excited about the capacity provided by seven cascaded Pacers from Devon, you know you have very little "spare" (so less chance to clean units etc)

 

[37372]

Plenty of chance to clean them at night when they go back to a stabling point to be checked over, fuelled and watered though.

 

[driver9000]

They can't be washed if the machines aren't working though. Not all stabling points have wash plants.

 

[142094]

Plenty of chance to clean them at night when they go back to a stabling point to be checked over, fuelled and watered though.

But not all of the trains go back to a depot or stabling point which has washer facilities, which has already been said. Take a depot such as Neville Hill - no way would they be able to clean all the units in one night.

 

[Gmac]

Never been too fussed about the exterior of a train being dirty. As long as they running why worry. Feel the same about my car too.

 

[strange6]

Never been too fussed about the exterior of a train being dirty. As long as they running why worry. Feel the same about my car too.

Well for one thing, it is not good for the paintwork of your vehicle having it always dirty and more importantly, it doesn't show your business in good light always having dirty vehicles. Just look at Eddie Stobbart and how successful he's been. His trucks are always turned out for the day spotless

 

[Pumbaa]

One other reason not mentioned earlier is there's precious little "spare" at Northern. WIth the exception of the 180s (only two of three diagrammed), most other units are used pretty intensely and Northern don't have the luxury of being able to let significant numbers of units sit in carriage sidings for days

This is the biggest issue. To compare directly with TPE, almost all units go back to one of the two dedicated depots with washers and get processed overnight. An addition, the TPE fleet is used far less intensively than the Northern fleet, and can be cleaned during the day etc.

Northern simply don't have the resources to a) clean every train every nigth b) take trains through the washers during the day. They can't afford to procure the resources or are unable to through their franchise terms.

 

[S19]

Well for one thing, it is not good for the paintwork of your vehicle having it always dirty and more importantly, it doesn't show your business in good light always having dirty vehicles. Just look at Eddie Stobbart and how successful he's been. His trucks are always turned out for the day spotless

Stobart spend over £500k a year on truck washing. I'm sure that'd just be a minor cost for Northern :roll:

 

[strange6]

This is the biggest issue. To compare directly with TPE, almost all units go back to one of the two dedicated depots with washers and get processed overnight. An addition, the TPE fleet is used far less intensively than the Northern fleet, and can be cleaned during the day etc.

Northern simply don't have the resources to a) clean every train every nigth b) take trains through the washers during the day. They can't afford to procure the resources or are unable to through their franchise terms.

Can't afford it? Do you know how much they gave their shareholders last year???

http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=140994

I'm sure they could afford to splash out on a couple of train washes and wash their stock once a month!

 

[linesider]

The East Midland set on hire to East Coast has just gone Southbound through Chester-Le-Street and it was so clean it looked brand new.

 

[tbtc]

Can't afford it? Do you know how much they gave their shareholders last year???

http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=140994

I'm sure they could afford to splash out on a couple of train washes and wash their stock once a month!

Ah, the agenda comes in to play... :roll:

share holders’ dividends ... have shown a 105% increase between 2007 and 2010

Given that Northern have managed something like a 50% increase in passengers that's not really that excessive... you have to put figures in context (something the RMT seem to have mixed form at)

 

[duffman82]

Point taken my friend but when First where operating in my area, you never saw this problem on their 156's. But you make a valid point all the same

Yeah I was down the south coast and noticed most of First Great Westerns stock was very clean, even the HST's. I was on a 150 in liverpool round christmas it was very dirty.

 

[Lampshade]

Yeah I was down the south coast and noticed most of First Great Westerns stock was very clean, even the HST's. I was on a 150 in liverpool round christmas it was very dirty.

150s seem to suffer the most, especially the 150/2s. In fact I'd go so far as to say Northern's 150215 is likely the dirtiest train on the network, especially as it still has the original BR interior hock:

 

[driver9000]

150215 has the FNW refurbishment interior, with the higher back seating and disabled access toilet. The former ATN 150/2s (228,268,270-278 etc) have the original BR layout and seats.

 

[strange6]

150215 has the FNW refurbishment interior, with the higher back seating and disabled access toilet. The former ATN 150/2s (228,268,270-278 etc) have the original BR layout and seats.

That original BR layout of seats is absolute rubbish on these trains. Is it me or is the arrangement a cock-up because so much space is taken up within the train by so few seats. I bet you could fit double the seats in them if they were arranged properly.

 

[Darandio]

That original BR layout of seats is absolute rubbish on these trains. Is it me or is the arrangement a cock-up because so much space is taken up within the train by so few seats. I bet you could fit double the seats in them if they were arranged properly.

Yes, but they couldn't afford to replace them due to paying out excessive dividends.

 

[strange6]

Yes, but they couldn't afford to replace them due to paying out excessive dividends.

lol Fair comment!

 

[Failed Unit]

That original BR layout of seats is absolute rubbish on these trains. Is it me or is the arrangement a cock-up because so much space is taken up within the train by so few seats. I bet you could fit double the seats in them if they were arranged properly.

I don't understand what you mean. The original layout had 148 seats. Compared to the 150/1 which had 138. You cant really say the BR seating wasted space. some people prefered the all facing 150/1 but that was so they could get in and out. The window seat on a 2+3 is always interesting.

 

[strange6]

I don't understand what you mean. The original layout had 148 seats. Compared to the 150/1 which had 138. You cant really say the BR seating wasted space. some people prefered the all facing 150/1 but that was so they could get in and out. The window seat on a 2+3 is always interesting.

Probably just me then. These does seem to be significatly less seating in the old arrangemet though when seats were facing each other in groups of 4's. Good for leg space though which is more than can be said on some of the newer arrangements