We Are Northern

[northernchris]

Saw 156443 in Newcastle earlier today with We are Northern vinyls promoting days out across the network. Then on my way back to Leeds saw an UID 158 at Neville Hill with same vinyls. Also had an email from Northern to say they are launching a new TV ad tonight - looks to be the first promotion Arriva have done since taking over

 

[Hellfire]

Shame they don't spend the money on some newer trains and making sure they have sufficient people to staff them.Check their Twitter feed for the latest list of cancelled services because of a) mechanical breakdown or b) member of train crew not available

 

[Darandio]

Shame they don't spend the money on some newer trains

Really?

Been living in a cardboard box with no link to the outside world for the last three months?

 

[Bungle965]

Shame they don't spend the money on some newer trains and making sure they have sufficient people to staff them.Check their Twitter feed for the latest list of cancelled services because of a) mechanical breakdown or b) member of train crew not available

I think you will find that they have indeed spent a lot of money on both diesel and electric which are being built by CAF, and the ones which they are keeping are being extensively refurbished.
Sam

 

[Darandio]

I think you will find that they have indeed spent a lot of money on both diesel and electric which are being built by CAF, and the ones which they are keeping are being extensively refurbished.
Sam

But you should know as well as anyone that they should already have them. The 3-4 months that they have had the franchise has been ample time, surely?

 

[Bungle965]

But you should know as well as anyone that they should already have them. The 3-4 months that they have had the franchise has been ample time, surely?

 

[fowler9]

How can you start a new contract without the new trains ready and waiting! Disgraceful. Oh yeah. Its hard to buy new trains without a contract.

 

[lincolnshire]

How can you start a new contract without the new trains ready and waiting! Disgraceful. Oh yeah. Its hard to buy new trains without a contract.

How long did thy have to prepare from signing on the dotted line for the franchise?

you don,t just go along to your local train dealership up the road and say I will have 200 of them please will you deliver them for day one of the franchise please all ready to go fuelled and driver trained etc.

Also its the Government that procures them for you and you get whats allocated to the franchise and you just pay the leasing company for there use.
When the franchise period runs out the trains just move onto the next winning bidder of the franchise, they don,t get new trains for the franchise.

At least Northern have not been shouting about all the new trains from day one like Trans Pennine Express who,s new trains will not be seen till about late 2017 /early 2018, they was giving the impression that the new trains would be here in the next week of the new franchise.

Have they even been ordered yet then?

 

[robbeech]

It's not good enough! They should have them now.
And they should adjust the routes.
As I overheard a lady saying at Sheffield station on Saturday.

I can't believe how stupid it is I have to wait at Worksop and get on a different train to Mansfield. There should just be one that goes straight there. And it stops loads of times.
It's pathetic I have to get off and on another. Why don't they just do one that goes straight there.


I understand her frustration
I'm sick of the lack of a direct wester hailes to Lewes service too. It's stupid they should just have one that goes straight there. Direct. Non stop. It could leave 20 minutes before the direct non stop Huntly to Dorchester South train leaves.

Clearly it will never be good enough for some.


.......there's no sarcasm symbol is there

 

[coppercapped]

Also its the Government that procures them for you and you get whats allocated to the franchise and you just pay the leasing company for there use.
When the franchise period runs out the trains just move onto the next winning bidder of the franchise, they don,t get new trains for the franchise.

Er, not quite!

The only recent trains for which the Government undertook the procurement are the IEP via Agility Trains for the GW and ECML (the Class 80X) and the Class 700 trains via Cross-London Trains for Thameslink. Note that in neither case is the Government paying for the trains - they are being funded by the two organisations using borrowed money. However the franchisees of the three routes are compelled to take the trains by the terms of the franchise agreements - the Train Service Provision payments for the operated diagrams are made by the TOCs in question but these payments are guaranteed by the Government.

In all other cases the franchise contract will specify some or all of the trains to be used and the TOC then makes an agreement with one or more ROSCOs for the supply of the stock. If new trains are to be built the TOC and ROSCO will specify them and the ROSCO will raise the capital to pay for them. The TOC pays the ROSCO for their hire.

At the end of the franchise the trains may or may not be passed on the the successor. In many/most cases the trains are passed on for reasons of depot equipment, staff training, route clearance and so on. But there are some exceptions, DMUs being transferred from their original operator to, for example, Chiltern and Southern.

To my knowledge, since 1994 no Government has purchased any trains directly.

 

[johntea]

I saw the advert earlier and concluded it must have been knocked up by the Apprentice contestants for the next series to be honest

The TransPenine Express I quite like as that relates to the railway and some of the routes you can go on their services quite well, but this Northern one didn't really get to the point of anything!

 

[Harbornite]

Shame they don't spend the money on some newer trains and making sure they have sufficient people to staff them.Check their Twitter feed for the latest list of cancelled services because of a) mechanical breakdown or b) member of train crew not available

It's not like Northern are due to receive two shiny new fleets in the form of CAF EMUs and DMUs is it...

:roll:


Some people. Just do some research before starting a rant.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

To my knowledge, since 1994 no Government has purchased any trains directly.

Well, apart from the CAF units for Translink... and the 68s and 88s for DRS which is technically state owned, I believe... (though even those are leased of course, though they are at least funded by a state owned enterprise).

But yes, I'm not sure what the poster ranting about the lack of new trains is on about, does he think that manufacturers have warehouses full of new trains ready to run?

Whilst it would have been interesting for enthusiasts to have had a unit or two in a shiny new livery on the 1st of April, I can totally understand why Arriva have decided on a "soft launch" given the reputation of the previous Northern franchise (though I maintain that that reputation is largely undeserved). TPE on the other hand gave out leaflets, repainted two units and launched with a big fanfare which was only backed up with promises of "jam tomorrow". They've even put the cart before the horse with the 6tph debacle starting before any of the new stock arrives.

 

[DMU180]

How long did thy have to prepare from signing on the dotted line for the franchise?

you don,t just go along to your local train dealership up the road and say I will have 200 of them please will you deliver them for day one of the franchise please all ready to go fuelled and driver trained etc.

Also its the Government that procures them for you and you get whats allocated to the franchise and you just pay the leasing company for there use.
When the franchise period runs out the trains just move onto the next winning bidder of the franchise, they don,t get new trains for the franchise.

At least Northern have not been shouting about all the new trains from day one like Trans Pennine Express who,s new trains will not be seen till about late 2017 /early 2018, they was giving the impression that the new trains would be here in the next week of the new franchise.

Have they even been ordered yet then?

So when there is some development and progression from a company they should not say anything? TransPennine Express are trying to do what any new franchise should do and give people solutions to their current problems. Customers appreciate that things cant change immediately and so they are heavily promoting their new trains to show that it will get better in time and they are doing something about the existing capacity problems.

 

[Nevillehill]

Have they even been ordered yet then?

Yes they have, and in the meantime they will be getting trains from Scotland when they get their new trains.

 

[fowler9]

How long did thy have to prepare from signing on the dotted line for the franchise?

you don,t just go along to your local train dealership up the road and say I will have 200 of them please will you deliver them for day one of the franchise please all ready to go fuelled and driver trained etc.

Also its the Government that procures them for you and you get whats allocated to the franchise and you just pay the leasing company for there use.
When the franchise period runs out the trains just move onto the next winning bidder of the franchise, they don,t get new trains for the franchise.

At least Northern have not been shouting about all the new trains from day one like Trans Pennine Express who,s new trains will not be seen till about late 2017 /early 2018, they was giving the impression that the new trains would be here in the next week of the new franchise.

Have they even been ordered yet then?

Sorry mate, was being sarcastic.

 

[507021]

Does anybody know which Class 158 carries the "We Are Northern" vinyls?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Does anybody know which Class 158 carries the "We Are Northern" vinyls?

I saw mention that it is 158850.

 

[centraltrains]

Does it go with this video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9RU5Kden1w

 

[507021]

I saw mention that it is 158850.

Thanks, much appreciated.

Does it go with this video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9RU5Kden1w

It does indeed.

 

[northwichcat]

But you should know as well as anyone that they should already have them. The 3-4 months that they have had the franchise has been ample time, surely?

Surely they can just go down to the train dealership and specify the colour they want and drive away the same day?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yes they have, and in the meantime they will be getting trains from Scotland when they get their new trains.

And 150s from GWR and LM, which will arrive before any ex-Scotrail trains arrive.

 

[Nevillehill]

Surely they can just go down to the train dealership and specify the colour they want and drive away the same day?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


And 150s from GWR and LM, which will arrive before any ex-Scotrail trains arrive.

Cheers for the extra gen.

Are the 333s going over to Manchester? And 323s heading the other way ?

 

[sprinterguy]

Are the 333s going over to Manchester? And 323s heading the other way ?

No; 333s staying where they are in West Yorkshire, and being supplemented by 3-car class 331s to allow 6-car formations. Class 323s moving to London Midland and ultimately being replaced by 4-car class 331s on some routes (Glossop/Hadfield), with class 319s stepping into the breach in the interim (or potentially long term in some cases).

 

[northwichcat]

Class 323s moving to London Midland

Correction - class 323s being returned to Porterbrook at the end of 2018. Porterbrook are hoping the next LM franchise will agree a lease of all of the 323s. The ITT for LM will be released soon so we might have a clue as to whether DfT think Porterbrook's idea is a good one or not.

 

[sprinterguy]

Correction - class 323s being returned to Porterbrook at the end of 2018. Porterbrook are hoping the next LM franchise will agree a lease of all of the 323s.

Ah, thanks for the correction. I didn't know whether the move to the LM franchise was already a DfT-sanctioned decision.

 

[northwichcat]

Ah, thanks for the correction. I didn't know whether the move to the LM franchise was already a DfT-sanctioned decision.

It was old DfT (under Labour) who originally proposed all the 323s going to LM but the 350/3s were seen as the replacement plan for that.

The LM consultation asked whether people think the 350s are appropriate for the longer work they are used on. To me that suggests either a major refurbishment or 350 replacements might happen under the next franchise. If new EMUs, like the ones being ordered more TPE Scottish services, are ordered for the longer LM services then I can't see them taking on both the 350/4s and the Northern 323s, both of which some people seem to think are done deals.

 

[northernchris]

I saw mention that it is 158850.

158844 is out today with the new vinyls

 

[hairyhandedfool]

158844 is out today with the new vinyls

156454 also now has them apparently.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Had one of the 158s earlier today, didn't get the number and only noticed the branding when I flew past it at Mirfield on a 185. Only went one stop and it was crush-loaded with ale-trailers but I did notice that the air-con was doing a good job!

 

[Deerfold]

I noticed they revamped the website a couple of weeks ago so the first image you see is no longer of buildings along the Thames.