First North Western ordering class 180s- Why?

[Transilien]

Wikipedia says that First North Western was going to order a mixture of class 175s and 180s, but this was dropped. Why would a regional franchise in the North West of England (an area not known for fast railways) want 125 mph trains?

 

[Polarbear]

The original proposal was to operate the 125mph variant on services between the North West & London.

The order was modified at a fairly early stage to standardise the order to what became the 175’s.

 

[43096]

Wikipedia says that First North Western was going to order a mixture of class 175s and 180s, but this was dropped. Why would a regional franchise in the North West of England (an area not known for fast railways) want 125 mph trains?

Because they were operating North West to Euston trains on an “open access” basis. It was pre FNW, too - the order was placed by North Western Trains.

 

[Spartacus]

FNW ran for a couple of years to Euston, from Manchester Airport and Rochdale and they were to have worked these. When the services were dropped so were the 180s.

 

[Transilien]

FNW ran for a couple of years to Euston, from Manchester Airport and Rochdale and they were to have worked these. When the services were dropped so were the 180s.

I know that 322s worked the Manchester Airport services, but what about the Rochdale ones?

 

[43096]

I know that 322s worked the Manchester Airport services, but what about the Rochdale ones?

The Rochdale service was Class 158s.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I know that 322s worked the Manchester Airport services, but what about the Rochdale ones?

I seem to recall 158s.

 

[Class 317]

Correct class 158's on Rochdale services.

Plans also included north Wales to London and other services from Crewe to Carlisle.

Class 180's would have been 3 car long in these services.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Class 180's would have been 3 car long in these services.

3 carriages! We can barely fit the demand in 11 carriages today!

Would that have made them the shortest 125mph units in the UK to run with passengers? (with the 4 car Voyagers in 2nd place)

 

[Djgr]

Because they were operating North West to Euston trains on an “open access” basis. It was pre FNW, too - the order was placed by North Western Trains.

This was a vanity project whilst their core network crumpled.