Northern 319 Water Trak

[stan claire]

Northern have posted a promotional video of a Water Trak system to help against low rail adhesion. The trains shown in the video are 319s.
In the video near the end, they state:

We are currently running five trains in passenger service with Water Trak. Next autumn, we hope to increase the number up to 16 so it’s an entire fleet of Northern trains operating in passenger service equipped with Water Trak.

Northern have sixteen 319s in their fleet from what I’m aware, and this Water Trak system is only on a 319 in the promotional video. Does this mean they plan on keeping the 319s for the foreseeable or will it be installed on a different fleet but they’re calling sixteen a “full fleet”?

Video link https://x.com/northernassist/status/1709164764696293880?s=46&t=oZJyDKZnhb9ve63ZxuZafg

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Northern have sixteen 319s in their fleet from what I’m aware

I'm aware of them having 15 319s, 361, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 372, 375, 378, 379, 381, 383, 384, 385 and 386.
They do have 16 170s.

 

[stan claire]

They do have 16 170s.

I mean yes, but in the video it was very clearly a 319 so the promo video as a 319 and they’re actually installing it on 170s makes no sense, according to the fleet details on Wikipedia it says 371 ex Northern is in storage, so potentially this is the sixteenth if they are planning on doing the 319s this could be number 16? Again, they say up to 16 so 371 could be an exception if it’s in storage

 

[507020]

But the 319s are supposed to be going off lease/for scrap before the end of November aren’t they?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

But the 319s are supposed to be going off lease/for scrap before the end of November

You said exactly as I was about to, it'd be interesting if the 319s lived after approaching their death so closely.

 

[YorkRailFan]

https://x.com/northernassist/status/1709184339580240230?s=20

 

[pokemonsuper9]

https://x.com/northernassist/status/1709184339580240230?s=20

raphael_nield:
Does this mean that the 319s will hang around a bit longer?

Northern:
I'm afraid we do not have any info on this at present, this is currently under discussion.

 

[millemille]

Water Trak was initially trialed on three 319's and two 170's. The full fleet fit of sixteen is on the 170's for a full fleet service trial. Both the initial and full fleet trial are being funded by the PIF (Performance Innovation Fund).