New Regional Trains for EMR

[RailWonderer]

Not sure what other services the class 360's could have been used on? The class 379's though I believe should have gone to Great Northern to release the class 387 units to Southern or South Eastern. This would help with replacement of class 313 fleet with Southern and go towards replacement of class 465 fleet with South Eastern.

As you say you will have class 158 and I suspect class 159 as well becoming life expired in 10 - 15 years time. I would have hoped by then, that there is a dual voltage tri - mode train by that time, that could work 3rd rail dc/OHLE, but also on battery and diesel power in the way that the class 756 works. Ideally it would be British built too by either CAF, Siemens, Hitachi or Alstom.

As well as the class 158/159 units that will need replacing in the next 10 to 15 years, you also have the class 465 fleet, plus class 318, 320 so maybe an order could be made of different versions of the same train to replace all of these types of units?

I would say 158s and 159 are life expired in 5-10 years time as they are already 34 years old now, as good as they are, they are nearing the end. That said if all the Sprinters don't get replaced in the next decade these will be the last to survive so could outlive their service life.

The DfT denied GN the 379s, ostensibly because 'commuting is not coming back'. That said if the Networkers need to be replaced and ordering new is too costly, then as you say 387 cascades could send the 379s to GN in a few years time.

 

[Halish Railway]

Not sure what other services the class 360's could have been used on?

Leicester to Nottingham 'Ivanhoe' stopping services would be a good shout post-electrification, requiring the end of through running beyond Nottingham to Newark, etc. If some were to be fitted with batteries then Matlock services would be a good shout (with the batteries being charged from the OHLE), maybe Newark Castle stopping services as well.

Standard Class 360s could also supplement Class 810s on longer-distance MML services post-electrification as well, although the completion of MML to at least Nottingham is still a few years away.

 

[43096]

Also, they are without gangways, which is poor in terms of passenger spread

Yet the evidence is that gangways aren’t actually used that much. The bigger issue is the sheep-like mentality of normals who get on the first carriage next to the platform entrance rather than walking down the platform.

 

[QSK19]

Yet the evidence is that gangways aren’t actually used that much. The bigger issue is the sheep-like mentality of normals who get on the first carriage next to the platform entrance rather than walking down the platform.

Indeed - I remember once boarding a double train set at STP. The rear unit was absolutely packed, yet the front unit (which I went for knowing the theory you mention) was so sparse practically everybody had a table to themselves!

 

[D365]

Would you also not have to remove the ETCS from the TFW class 158's?

By "you" I presume you mean Angel Trains, who are arranging for this work to take place.

 

[Meerkat]

Yet the evidence is that gangways aren’t actually used that much. The bigger issue is the sheep-like mentality of normals who get on the first carriage next to the platform entrance rather than walking down the platform.

That's pretty insulting to passengers. I think its reasonable to want to get on the nearest bit of a train and only walk further if you can't find a seat, and its seems a reasonable assumption that in this day and age you should be able to walk along inside a train.
Do Anglia have enough FLIRTs to take over/sublet for the Eastern half of Norwich/Nottingham? They could do 100mph on the ECML couldn't they?

 

[Trainbike46]

That's pretty insulting to passengers. I think its reasonable to want to get on the nearest bit of a train and only walk further if you can't find a seat, and its seems a reasonable assumption that in this day and age you should be able to walk along inside a train.
Do Anglia have enough FLIRTs to take over/sublet for the Eastern half of Norwich/Nottingham? They could do 100mph on the ECML couldn't they?

Well, when I worked for on-train catering (not in the UK), it would regularly happen that one carriage would be rammed, and the next would have more than half the seats empty. I would point this out to the people standing, yet none of them would ever walk to the next carriage. Unequal loadings like these are a thing in many places, unfortunately

If I remember correctly, the FLIRTS can be upgraded for 110 mph if required or helpful, which it may be on the ECML

 

[61653 HTAFC]

By "you" I presume you mean Angel Trains, who are arranging for this work to take place.

Why would it need removing? The trains can still operate on non-ETCS lines with the equipment in place (as they do everywhere East of Sutton Bridge Junction). Probably a long shot that the 158s would still be in use by the time ETCS rolls out to darkest Lincolnshire, but having the equipment in place but unused wouldn't actually cause any problems would it?

 

[43096]

That's pretty insulting to passengers.

It’s accurate.

 

[D365]

Why would it need removing? The trains can still operate on non-ETCS lines with the equipment in place (as they do everywhere East of Sutton Bridge Junction). Probably a long shot that the 158s would still be in use by the time ETCS rolls out to darkest Lincolnshire, but having the equipment in place but unused wouldn't actually cause any problems would it?

For commonality with other Angel 158s - the TfW cab desks are completely different.

And apparently the Ansaldo onboard ETCS (Class 158 and 97302-304) will not be capable of operating under newer ETCS baselines (e.g. East Coast).

 

[tsyxa]

Now that the Ivanhoe stoppers seem to be using majority 3-car 170s, is there any rumour of lengthening the platforms at Syston, Sileby and Barrow upon Soar?

 

[LowLevel]

Now that the Ivanhoe stoppers seem to be using majority 3-car 170s, is there any rumour of lengthening the platforms at Syston, Sileby and Barrow upon Soar?

No. The trains are fitted with selective door opening operated by the guard.

 

[dk1]

No. The trains are fitted with selective door opening operated by the guard.

Is it SDO with 170s though? We just knew it as de-selecting as only the rear coach locks out when the guard operates it from that vehicle.

 

[Failed Unit]

No. The trains are fitted with selective door opening operated by the guard.

I must admit, it has surprised me the number of short stations they stop at, some surprised me. But the majority of stations between Lincoln and Leicester seem to have short platforms, which must be fun as the coach with the disable access can be either at the front or the rear of the train. Newark Castle for example only takes 2.5 coaches so if you had a wheelchair onboard would you use the local door (as it was on the platform) or put it in coach 1 irrespective?

Market Rasen is always announced as from 2 only, but it can actually take 3 (Back in CT days they never announced it had a short platform).

I can‘t see lots of platform lengthening myself, too many of them don’t have many passengers (such as Swinderby).

All good news however, from routes that until recently only had 1 coach trains (even 2 coach trains were struggling at weekends)

 

[LowLevel]

Is it SDO with 170s though? We just knew it as de-selecting as only the rear coach locks out when the guard operates it from that vehicle.

Different versions of 170s over the years have had different systems but I believe they're now all standardised on Manual SDO, all panels in all coaches have an SDO button which causes that coach and the coaches between there and the active driving desk to be released when the release buttons are operated. It can be used if driver only operated as there is also a button on the desk controls but it's only possible to release the doors on the front coach only that way.

Certainly the EMR 170/2s, /4s and /5s all have the same system.

I must admit, it has surprised me the number of short stations they stop at, some surprised me. But the majority of stations between Lincoln and Leicester seem to have short platforms, which must be fun as the coach with the disable access can be either at the front or the rear of the train. Newark Castle for example only takes 2.5 coaches so if you had a wheelchair onboard would you use the local door (as it was on the platform) or put it in coach 1 irrespective?

Market Rasen is always announced as from 2 only, but it can actually take 3 (Back in CT days they never announced it had a short platform).

I can‘t see lots of platform lengthening myself, too many of them don’t have many passengers (such as Swinderby).

All good news however, from routes that until recently only had 1 coach trains (even 2 coach trains were struggling at weekends)

In theory you only open the required number of coaches and if a wheelchair user turns up and the wheelchair space is off the platform it is an alternative transport job. However in practice at most stations you can open the local door.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is it SDO with 170s though? We just knew it as de-selecting as only the rear coach locks out when the guard operates it from that vehicle.

Unit / vehicle deselect is a form of SDO.

 

[dk1]

Unit / vehicle deselect is a form of SDO.

In a way, yes.

 

[tsyxa]

Is there any word on when 170/158 refurb will be starting?

 

[JonathanH]

Is there any word on when 170/158 refurb will be starting?

Is there any word that there is even definitely going to be a 170/158 refurb?

 

[tsyxa]

Is there any word that there is even definitely going to be a 170/158 refurb?

I’m not sure, I would assume 158s would just involve a repaint and new seat covers; Scotrail 170s seem to be optimistic with stickers on the windows saying that refurbs are coming. It would be ridiculous not to refurb 170s given the mismatch state that they’re in but it wouldn’t be a decision that surprises me

 

[Trains66779]

Good morning all, I am doing some research on rail accesability and would like to know if the EMR class 156s have been entirely withdrawn please? I know a few went for storage at Ely awhile ago but I am not too sure. Thank you for your help.
Kind regards
Will.

 

[LowLevel]

Good morning all, I am doing some research on rail accesability and would like to know if the EMR class 156s have been entirely withdrawn please? I know a few went for storage at Ely awhile ago but I am not too sure. Thank you for your help.
Kind regards
Will.

They finish at the May timetable change and there are currently 4 units left in traffic working Cleethorpes to Barton on Humber or substituting for other trains at short notice, they no longer are considered to have any other booked work.

 

[Trains66779]

They finish at the May timetable change and there are currently 4 units left in traffic working Cleethorpes to Barton on Humber or substituting for other trains at short notice, they no longer are considered to have any other booked work.

Thank you very much for your help. As a rail enthusiast as well as a researcher I'll be sad to these units go as they have so much character. Thank you again and have a lovely day.
Kind regards
Will. :]