Northern Line Unit Formation Changes - Feb / March 2023

[Dave91131]

Having not noted any formation changes since 2015 / 2016, yesterday noted some Northern line sets which have been re-formed.

Previous pairings:
51526 + 51527
51589 + 51590
51624 + 51625
51651 + 51723

Current pairings:
51526 + 51624
51590 + 51651
51625 + 51723

I'm unsure if 51527 & 51589 are operating as a pair, or if these half sets are out of service at present.

It is also interesting that 51526 + 51624 are a pair of even numbered half sets, which (except in the cases where a 517xx de-icing set is in the formation) is something I've not witnessed before.

Does anybody know the reason for these changes, the status of 51527 & 51589, and if we can expect more changes to pairings in the near future?

 

[bramling]

Having not noted any formation changes since 2015 / 2016, yesterday noted some Northern line sets which have been re-formed.

Previous pairings:
51526 + 51527
51589 + 51590
51624 + 51625
51651 + 51723

Current pairings:
51526 + 51624
51590 + 51651
51625 + 51723

I'm unsure if 51527 & 51589 are operating as a pair, or if these half sets are out of service at present.

It is also interesting that 51526 + 51624 are a pair of even numbered half sets, which (except in the cases where a 517xx de-icing set is in the formation) is something I've not witnessed before.

Does anybody know the reason for these changes, the status of 51527 & 51589, and if we can expect more changes to pairings in the near future?

Speculation, however Alstom have been struggling to supply the required number of trains in recent weeks, so the obvious guess is that this is an attempt to form up as many “good” trains for service as possible.

As to why there is a shortage of trains, opening Battersea without any extra trains hasn’t helped, and Night Tube can’t be helping either.

 

[Dstock7080]

As to why there is a shortage of trains, opening Battersea without any extra trains hasn’t helped, and Night Tube can’t be helping either.

Just 1 additional train required peak/off-peak from before extension opened.

 

[Dave91131]

All 4 "usual" pairings of units mentioned in my opening post of this thread are now back together.

 

[bramling]

All 4 "usual" pairings of units mentioned in my opening post of this thread are now back together.

I spoke to someone “in the know” about this. It would seem there have been issues with couplings, and the unusual formations were indeed an attempt to match good units. Presumably there’s an element of awaiting parts, which seems to be a common thing across the industry at the moment. It would seem the Northern are starting to get some of the issues the Jubilee has had, possibly due to the more aggressive ATO operation of the trains.

 

[drglgray]

Is there a list of all the pairings from the past. It might be useful on my next visit to London. Appreciate any help. Thanks

 

[Bigchris]

Is there a list of all the pairings from the past. It might be useful on my next visit to London. Appreciate any help. Thanks

All the Northern sets are back in their original pairs now as far as I'm aware. What is it exactly you're after, just a list of the normal Northern pairs?

 

[drglgray]

All the Northern sets are back in their original pairs now as far as I'm aware. What is it exactly you're after, just a list of the normal Northern pairs?

Back a year or so saw list of all formations on this site but then there seemed to be some changes. I still need LU51533 and LU51709. Are they still together?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 May 2023 ==

Back a year or so saw list of all formations on this site but then there seemed to be some changes. I still need LU51533 and LU51709. Are they still together?

Sorry LU51553 & LU51709

 

[Bigchris]

Back a year or so saw list of all formations on this site but then there seemed to be some changes. I still need LU51533 and LU51709. Are they still together?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 May 2023 ==


Sorry LU51553 & LU51709

Yes, they're still together, Intertube shows them in service today too.

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