Hi all is this 195 actually running today?

[Trains1]

Hi all just seen a 195 is running this service https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L89030/2026-05-24/detailed#allox_id=0 on RTT is it actually running it or just a accident on the data feed side?

Thanks

 

[Peter Mugridge]

That looks like a swapped allocation with the original unit not cleared off the system properly. It happens quite regularly. 195s cannot work with 156s.

 

[Trains1]

Thank you! the other train was a 150

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Weird, looking at the allocation history (https://charlwoodhouse.co.uk/rail/livetrain/L89030/24/05/26)
It shows it originally being 156418 + 195117, set at 24/05/26 00:03:07, then updated to 150271 + 156418 + 195117 at 24/05/26 23:20:49.

Either way, it definitely didn't run like that, given the 195 can't work in multiple with either 150s or 156s.

Do 195s ever run along the mid-Cheshire line? I've only ever seen 150/156s.

 

[D1537]

Weird, looking at the allocation history (https://charlwoodhouse.co.uk/rail/livetrain/L89030/24/05/26)
It shows it originally being 156418 + 195117, set at 24/05/26 00:03:07, then updated to 150271 + 156418 + 195117 at 24/05/26 23:20:49.

Either way, it definitely didn't run like that, given the 195 can't work in multiple with either 150s or 156s.

Do 195s ever run along the mid-Cheshire line? I've only ever seen 150/156s.

The allocation is all over the shop there. The 150+156+195 lashup is allocated to the next three trains after the one mentioned above, then the 1909 Man Picc-Chester and return are just the 150+195 combo,

 

[Trains1]

Weird, looking at the allocation history (https://charlwoodhouse.co.uk/rail/livetrain/L89030/24/05/26)
It shows it originally being 156418 + 195117, set at 24/05/26 00:03:07, then updated to 150271 + 156418 + 195117 at 24/05/26 23:20:49.

Either way, it definitely didn't run like that, given the 195 can't work in multiple with either 150s or 156s.

Do 195s ever run along the mid-Cheshire line? I've only ever seen 150/156s.

I've never seen a 195 on the Mid-Cheshire line in person, but I did see a test run on YouTube of one going through Northwich .

 

[em81]

I may have an explanation for this.

At the end of Saturday, Northern stabled units 150271, 156418 and 195117 at Chester. Units 150271 and 156418 were diagrammed to work the 09:03 Chester–Manchester Piccadilly service on Sunday, whilst 195117 was scheduled to remain in place until it was required for the 06:20 Chester–Leeds service on Monday morning.

On Sunday, however, all morning Mid-Cheshire line services were cancelled due to lack of volunteers to work services. 156418 and 150271 worked the 12:59 Chester–Piccadilly, but it appears the RTT system became confused due to the cancellations and stock movements at Chester that morning.

The Civity fleet has, to my knowledge, never operated a scheduled passenger service on the Mid-Cheshire line. In operational terms, they would arguably be well suited to it, particularly given the rather unusual practice of diagramming four-car Sprinter formations while routinely locking out the rear vehicle for the entirety of the journey.

Alongside Northern test runs, Transport for Wales have also used the Mid-Cheshire line for driver training and test running of the Class 196 units.

Interestingly, there was also an occasion during a period of significant disruption when Control attempted to manage service recovery by allocating a 195 for a Mid-Cheshire working. A Class 195 arriving off the Sheffield service at Piccadilly was originally down to operate the next Mid-Cheshire departure, around 25 minutes behind schedule, with the severely delayed Class 156 from Chester then covering the following Sheffield service around 30 minutes behind schedule. That was abandoned, with the Sheffield service instead departing on time using the 195, while the Mid-Cheshire line suffered two consecutive cancellations instead.

 

[Rail Ranger]

195s are not allowed on the Mid Cheshire Line because of a clearance issue at a road over rail bridge south of Hale. Perhaps discovered on that test run?

 

[em81]

195s are not allowed on the Mid Cheshire Line because of a clearance issue at a road over rail bridge south of Hale. Perhaps discovered on that test run?

Interesting if that is indeed the case, as only last month Owain Roberts outlined the official rationale for not allocating Class 195s to Mid-Cheshire services, and no mention was made of any route clearance issues. Instead, he explained that the available 195s not required for longer-distance workings are prioritised for stopping services on the Hope Valley route and the CLC line via Warrington, where their superior acceleration offers greater operational benefits due to the mix of express and stopping services on those lines.

It's also noteworthy that Transport for Wales used the route for Class 196 testing following Northern's own Class 195 test run. While the Mid-Cheshire line is cleared for Class 158s and Class 175s, and every route on which TfW previously operated 158s or 175s now has Class 196 operated services.

I do wonder whether the issue is simply a matter of speed differential assessments or outstanding paperwork rather than any physical route restriction?

 

[Trains1]

Interesting if that is indeed the case, as only last month Owain Roberts outlined the official rationale for not allocating Class 195s to Mid-Cheshire services, and no mention was made of any route clearance issues. Instead, he explained that the available 195s not required for longer-distance workings are prioritised for stopping services on the Hope Valley route and the CLC line via Warrington, where their superior acceleration offers greater operational benefits due to the mix of express and stopping services on those lines.

It's also noteworthy that Transport for Wales used the route for Class 196 testing following Northern's own Class 195 test run. While the Mid-Cheshire line is cleared for Class 158s and Class 175s, and every route on which TfW previously operated 158s or 175s now has Class 196 operated services.

I do wonder whether the issue is simply a matter of speed differential assessments or outstanding paperwork rather than any physical route restriction?

when did the Transport for Wales testing of the 197 happen and was it the full line or just between Northwich and Chester?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 May 2026 ==

195s are not allowed on the Mid Cheshire Line because of a clearance issue at a road over rail bridge south of Hale. Perhaps discovered on that test run?

could the clearance issue only occur in one direction or both?

 

[Rail Ranger]

The Sectional Appendix may provide the answer. From memory, 195s are banned between Deansgate Junction and Northwich.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 May 2026 ==

Correction. 195s are banned between Hale and Mickle Trafford Junction: Sectional Appendix (https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/sectional-appendix/Sectional Appendix full PDFs March 24/London North Western (North) Sectional Appendix March 2024.pdf) says “Prohibited between Hale and Mickle Trafford Junction”.

 

[em81]

when did the Transport for Wales testing of the 197 happen and was it the full line or just between Northwich and Chester?

You're right - 197, not 196. If the YouTube video is dated correctly, it must have been afterwards, as TfW didn't have any before the Northern 195 test run. Would a test run be exempt from usual clearance requirements?