Northern Unit Refurbishments and depot allocations.

[Mathew S]

Hope it isn't the same woman Northern use at many of their stations already. I can't bear the way she pronounces Todmorden, Bradford Forster Square or Keighley!

She's defiinitely Northern - it's that kind of "soft BBC generic Northern" type voice - a bit Victoria Wood-esque.

It's the same voice used in other areas as well. I heard her today at Leamington Spa.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's the same voice used in other areas as well. I heard her today at Leamington Spa.

It's not Atos Annie, who is the station announcer almost everywhere now.

 

[Glenn1969]

Just to bring it back on topic- will the Northern refurbs actually be complete in time for the launch of Northern Connect in December or is that wishful thinking?

 

[Harvey B]

Just to bring it back on topic- will the Northern refurbs actually be complete in time for the launch of Northern Connect in December or is that wishful thinking?

PRM mods will most likely finish by December (because they have to) but I doubt Northern can actually complete the refurbs.
As for the new livery being put on all the un-refurbished units by the end of the year, the chances of that happening is very slim (i'm thinking about a 5 to 10% chance they'll be done by then).
Finally, as for the interior refurbishments (excluding PRM mods as I consider them as a separate thing), the chances of interior refurbs being completed by December are 0%.

 

[Killingworth]

PRM mods will most likely finish by December (because they have to) but I doubt Northern can actually complete the refurbs.
As for the new livery being put on all the un-refurbished units by the end of the year, the chances of that happening is very slim (i'm thinking about a 5 to 10% chance they'll be done by then).
Finally, as for the interior refurbishments (excluding PRM mods as I consider them as a separate thing), the chances of interior refurbs being completed by December are 0%.

So, all the brave talk at the start of the franchise of refurbished old trains indistinguishable from new isn't going to happen. We'll have half done trains that may have seat covers that are new, but look filthy, and exteriors that won't be in the new livery until we've started talking of the next franchise. But Pacers should have gone.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

With all this talk of the refurbishment schedule and its ever-decreasing correspondence with reality, I wonder what the odds are that 144012 will still be running on 2nd January 2020...

 

[Harvey B]

So, all the brave talk at the start of the franchise of refurbished old trains indistinguishable from new isn't going to happen. We'll have half done trains that may have seat covers that are new, but look filthy, and exteriors that won't be in the new livery until we've started talking of the next franchise. But Pacers should have gone.

I think interior refurbishments and the addition of the new livery will most likely be done by the end of 2020 so I doubt that the trains will be half complete actually be half complete.

 

[James_D]

Slightly off topic, but with regards to Heaton's unit allocation, how many 156's do they now have? of which how many are ex Scotrail and how many will they be getting?

Same question with 158's, how many stationed currently and how many to come?

Have any Heaton based 142's gone off lease?

Thanks!

 

[NewcastleOne]

Slightly off topic, but with regards to Heaton's unit allocation, how many 156's do they now have? of which how many are ex Scotrail and how many will they be getting?

Same question with 158's, how many stationed currently and how many to come?

Have any Heaton based 142's gone off lease?

Thanks!

There are planned to be 16 or 18 Class 158s with 3(?) in service on East Coast And Tyne Valley Services And another 2(?) in Driver training for Durham Coast And other services

 

[jonesy3001]

the heaton based 142s should have gone to newton heath to strengthen services in the north west.

 

[Harvey B]

There are planned to be 16 or 18 Class 158s with 3(?) in service on East Coast And Tyne Valley Services And another 2(?) in Driver training for Durham Coast And other services

But wouldn't anymore 158s take the total number of units going for refurbs above 243?

 

[NewcastleOne]

But wouldn't anymore 158s take the total number of units going for refurbs above 243?

These are Class 158s already within Northern and are Included in Units going for refurbishment.

 

[jonesy3001]

84 left to do if you include the 3 150/1s to come from WMT and the 17 323s;

https://merseyrailpep507.blogspot.com/p/unofficial-northern-fleet-list.html

 

[Harvey B]

Have any Heaton based 142's gone off lease?

I don't think any Pacers can go off lease until the class 195s arrive

 

[Harvey B]

These are Class 158s already within Northern and are Included in Units going for refurbishment.

I thought they were extra ones Northern were receiving

 

[Harvey B]

84 left to do if you include the 3 150/1s to come from WMT and the 17 323s;

https://merseyrailpep507.blogspot.com/p/unofficial-northern-fleet-list.html

I've done the maths and theres more than 84 to do

 

[NoMorePacers]

I'm gonna bet that over half of the Pacer fleet will still be in service by the new year.

 

[jonesy3001]

I've done the maths and theres more than 84 to do

Don't count the 142s/144s/153s/321s/322s they're leaving the franchise, it's the 150/1s,150/2s,155s,156s,158s and 323s also 150105/7/9 to come from WMT.

Most of the fleet has had PRM mods but not through the paintworks yet.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I'm gonna bet that over half of the Pacer fleet will still be in service by the new year.

Only one of them (144012) will be allowed to be in service in the new year... so, if you're right I hope there's plenty of spare buses in the North!

 

[NewcastleOne]

I thought they were extra ones Northern were receiving

Ex ScotRail? They’re already here.

 

[jonesy3001]

Don't forget to count 150209 also as that's going to be used as centre cars for 2 150/1s if northern ever get round to doing them.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Don't forget to count 150209 also as that's going to be used as centre cars for 2 150/1s if northern ever get round to doing them.

209/212 is currently working out of Newton Heath coupled semi-permanently to a 153, isn't it?

 

[jonesy3001]

209/212 is currently working out of Newton Heath coupled semi-permanently to a 153, isn't it?

last time i seen a pic of 209/212 they were coupled to a pacer on a leeds - southport run but it is normally coupled up to a 153 for toilet purposes.

 

[Harvey B]

Ex ScotRail? They’re already here.

What I actually meant was more cascaded units on top of those already received from Scot Rail but it appears to have been a misunderstanding.

 

[Harvey B]

I'm gonna bet that over half of the Pacer fleet will still be in service by the new year.

Unless anymore Pacers go for PRM mods between now and then. There's no chance that they'll be in service between now and then. I think if any Pacers are to remain in service it will be 144012 only if no other pacers go for PRM mods .

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Unless anymore Pacers go for PRM mods between now and then. There's no chance that they'll be in service between now and then. I think if any Pacers are to remain in service it will be 144012 only if no other pacers go for PRM mods .

AIUI the sole Pacer evolution is destined to be one of a kind it's safe to say.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Unless anymore Pacers go for PRM mods between now and then. There's no chance that they'll be in service between now and then. I think if any Pacers are to remain in service it will be 144012 only if no other pacers go for PRM mods .

I think a derogation, possibly with the bog locked out, is highly likely. That or actual buses.

 

[Harvey B]

Don't count the 142s/144s/153s/321s/322s they're leaving the franchise, it's the 150/1s,150/2s,155s,156s,158s and 323s also 150105/7/9 to come from WMT.

Most of the fleet has had PRM mods but not through the paintworks yet.

Have you counted the 170s, the 319s and the 333s in that list?

 

[jonesy3001]

Have you counted the 170s, the 319s and the 333s in that list?

They've already had PRM work done to them it's says in a box thats says notes whats PRM'd and what isn't, 319373 is on short term to northern so don't count that one.

 

[Harvey B]

They've already had PRM work done to them it's says in a box thats says notes whats PRM'd and what isn't, 319373 is on short term to northern so don't count that one.

firstly, there are also two other 319s on a short term loan to Northern too and i'm not counting those 3 319s anyway, but thereare 319s that are yet to go for an interior refurb.
Secondly, I was counting units that have have not received the new livery as well as PRM mods so that's why my figure was higher and If I was counting units that have not received interior refurbishments that figure would have been higher (but I didn't since I count that as a separate thing).
If i'm honest, what you should have done is said '84 units left to go for PRM mods' rather than '84 units left' as someone could get confused (like I did) and think that your talking about units that have not received a refurbishment (my criteria is any unit that has at least received the new livery, but I guess everyone's criteria is different)