• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Northern rolling stock changes post electrification

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

swt_passenger

Veteran Member
Joined
7 Apr 2010
Messages
34,240
TimSYoung40145 said:
Did Northern deem 158s unsuitable for FTPE or that they can't logistically move them from their current duties?
Click to expand...

Transferring 158s may not have been on the official agenda at all. It's really only ever been a (fairly reasonable) assumption made by correspondents in these forums...
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

E

edwin_m

Veteran Member
Joined
21 Apr 2013
Messages
28,608
Location
Nottingham
Northern's 158s are generally used on Leeds-Sheffield/Nottingham (which interwork with each other) and York-Blackpool so provide for longer journeys than Manchester-Blackpool. I wonder if Metro might also have raised objections, as some of these units were paid for by increasing fares in West Yorkshire.
 
N

northwichcat

Veteran Member
Joined
23 Jan 2009
Messages
32,692
Location
Northwich
TimSYoung40145 said:
You're probably right, if METRO is providing funding for 158s, then they have every right to object.
Click to expand...

10 of the Northern 158s were funded by Metro. Other 158s have come from a variety of sources and funding - including Merseytravel funding for 6 x 158s despite none currently being used in Merseyside. A few were funded were Yorkshire Forward but that funding has long since expired.

Also I've remembered with regards to CCTV on the 158s Metro funded it except in the case of 5 or 6 158s which was TfGM funded (the ones used on Calder Vale.)
 
sprinterguy

sprinterguy

Veteran Member
Joined
4 Mar 2010
Messages
11,567
Location
Macclesfield
61653 HTAFC said:
I rather like the look of that livery, can we have it on the West Riding EMUs too?
Click to expand...
I wouldn't have thought so, METRO would probably be unhappy to see the loss of their derivative variant of the Northern livery. Although the 322s have recently been repainted in all-over Northern blue, haven't they?

Northern never seem to have been able to settle on a "standard" livery for very long, even allowing for the fact that they've been in control for longer than any of the preceding franchises.
 
Last edited:
N

northwichcat

Veteran Member
Joined
23 Jan 2009
Messages
32,692
Location
Northwich
Brian Aylott said:
Agree they were ex-Scotrail but have been repainted in Northern blue recently during C6s at Wabtec
Click to expand...

What I was meaning is they never had MetroTrain branding unlike the 321s. Northern have scaled back how much the term MetroTrain is used. When Arriva Trains Northern had the franchise all local services in West Yorks were announced as MetroTrain services at stations, that stopped when Northern took over. They also scaled back the amount of Metro branding on the 321s and 333s.
 
B

BelleIsle

Member
Joined
24 Aug 2012
Messages
116
For what it is worth, I used to use Thameslink regularly and still make the occasional trip. The 319s have always been good trains for me. Reliable and with good performance on AC. I will be happy to see them arrive. I believe some of the negativity I have observed may be due to the abuse they have received. Increased vandalism is one of the downsides of DOO which should hopefully be much reduced up here.

I just hope they fix the following:
  • Flooring that seems to attract grime.
  • Scratches on the windows.
  • Easy to disassemble seats (the 150s had the same problems).
  • Better latches for the gangway doors so they stop coming open.
 
Xenophon PCDGS

Xenophon PCDGS

Veteran Member
Joined
17 Apr 2011
Messages
35,391
Location
A typical commuter-belt part of north-west England
As a brief aside, I am amazed as to the total number postings that have been entered upon this thread and the inner mathematician in me looked at that total and divided it by the intended number of Class 319 units scheduled to arrive at Northern Rail, which works out at over 170 postings made per cascaded unit.
 
C

ChiefPlanner

Established Member
Joined
6 Sep 2011
Messages
8,312
Location
Herts
Thameslink have some "modest" refurbed units in service - quite super - (319004 /319438 recent ones travelled on) - bright clean interiors , new seating moquette , DMI matrix and a new mobility toilet pod and multi functional area alongside. Softer lighting.

An old hard working unit can be "made good" .....
 
S

SpacePhoenix

Established Member
Joined
18 Mar 2014
Messages
5,491
ChiefPlanner said:
Thameslink have some "modest" refurbed units in service - quite super - (319004 /319438 recent ones travelled on) - bright clean interiors , new seating moquette , DMI matrix and a new mobility toilet pod and multi functional area alongside. Softer lighting.

An old hard working unit can be "made good" .....
Click to expand...

A good example of a high quality refurb that can be done to old units is the SWT's 456s, anyone who wasn't familiar with them would probably think that they were brand new
 
S

Stew998

Member
Joined
17 Jan 2014
Messages
98
Location
Mid Sussex
BelleIsle said:
For what it is worth, I used to use Thameslink regularly and still make the occasional trip. The 319s have always been good trains for me. Reliable and with good performance on AC. I will be happy to see them arrive. I believe some of the negativity I have observed may be due to the abuse they have received. Increased vandalism is one of the downsides of DOO which should hopefully be much reduced up here.

I just hope they fix the following:
  • Flooring that seems to attract grime.
  • Scratches on the windows.
  • Easy to disassemble seats (the 150s had the same problems).
  • Better latches for the gangway doors so they stop coming open.
Click to expand...

Commuting from Sussex to London Bridge every day about the only silver lining of the LB rebuild cloud is the fact that when I work late I no longer have to catch a Thameslink train from LB.

Have to say I will be pleased to see the back of the 319s; scruffy, noisy, draughty, rattly things, completely agree with the fixes suggested above and would add:

  • Something that automatically shuts the doors after a few seconds (not leaving them open until the train is ready to leave while all the warm air disappears.)
  • Windows that stay closed or open as desired (and don't open/close when you enter a tunnel or another train passes)
  • Improved soundproofing
Presumably the suspension will be rebuilt too, when they were introduced I remember the ride being exceptional compared to the 60s EMUs that NSE (or their predecessors) were running. Now they seem to jump about and sway all over the place compared to the 377s. Whether it's the age of the 319s, the comparative newness of the 377s or a combination of both I don't know.

Not sure about reliability either, in my experience Thameslink in general has a shocking record for cancellations and lateness, although I think I am right in saying they are bottom of the pecking order behind Gatwick Express and Southern - which if true can't help. But train breakdowns and faults seem pretty regular...
 
Class377/5

Class377/5

Established Member
Joined
19 Jun 2010
Messages
5,594
robert7111a said:
Could I (rightly or wrongly) assume that the 319's going off lease with FCC are those not scheduled for classified overhaul?
Click to expand...

Every 319 is having including the Northern units as its the owners not the TOC doing the work.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top