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LM Class 150s Refurb?

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150001

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The London Midland class 150s (105,107,109) are still in the old Centro green with the rather tatty, dim interiors. Are London Midland ever going to finally gut the interior and refurbish the units into something smarter. At the moment these units are the odd ones out and they need a new interior; the 150s can be excellent (ATW) and a LM livery would suit them really well. If LM can get 172s, surely they can afford to refurbish the three 150s. They are still fine externally and have even replaced one of 107 headlight bulbs

http://www.flickr.com/photos/railphotosonline/7224060368/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cambrianbasher/7184663791/

But they need a new interior! Does anyone know if or when this might eventually happen?
 
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172212

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The London Midland class 150s (105,107,109) are still in the old Centro green with the rather tatty, dim interiors. Are London Midland ever going to finally gut the interior and refurbish the units into something smarter. At the moment these units are the odd ones out and they need a new interior; the 150s can be excellent (ATW) and a LM livery would suit them really well. If LM can get 172s, surely they can afford to refurbish the three 150s. They are still fine externally and have even replaced one of 107 headlight bulbs

http://www.flickr.com/photos/railphotosonline/7224060368/sizes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cambrianbasher/7184663791/

But they need a new interior! Does anyone know if or when this might eventually happen?

Interesting question. I don't think there are any plans to refurbish these units, I don't even know how long LM are going to keep these last 3 units for
 

150001

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Shouldn't really want to push out the 150s, but LM could do with three 172s with shorter car lengths. If that couldn't be done then maybe turn to CAF or CSRE.
 

David10

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Believe the main reason for retaining the 150s was that the 172s couldn't operate the Bedford-Bletchley services and the 153s that were originally to operate the service had insufficent capacity and hence 2 were transferred to FGW. Think long term the plan is for Chiltern to take over the service when the Oxford-Bletchley line is reinstated later in the decade.

As I recall the 150 seats were only recently recovered.
 

150001

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Well it didn't stop FGW refurbishing the old Centro units.
 

CC 72100

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Well it didn't stop FGW refurbishing the old Centro units.

Hmm it's not exactly a comprehensive refurbishment of the 150/1s by any stretch of the imagination. Seat covers and signage by the looks of it.
 

150001

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True. I was hoping they would be done the same as FGW 150/2 or even a refitting like the Southern and SWT Class 455s. The 455s are the same age but look much, much newer.
 

David10

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True. I was hoping they would be done the same as FGW 150/2.
FGW's 150/2s only have 2+2 seating so this won't happen. Apart from being a bit drab courtesy of the brown and orange interior they are otherwise serviceable. With only 2 and a bit years left on the franchise, can't see LM throwing much money at them.
 

RPI

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Some of the FGW 150/1's have had a better refurb than the others, the ones that came from LM have had new seat cushions, seat covers, seat backs cleaned and painted, interiors painted and new signage and lighting, whereas the ex Silverling units have just had seat covers and signage but all have had CCTV (not sure about 001/002) and intermediete door controls fitted.
 

monty9120

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i asked lm ages ago.

they said all will be refurbished in the same colours as there 321s i think

hasnt happened yet, im sure it will do when they can free them up
 

fgwrich

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Some of the FGW 150/1's have had a better refurb than the others, the ones that came from LM have had new seat cushions, seat covers, seat backs cleaned and painted, interiors painted and new signage and lighting, whereas the ex Silverling units have just had seat covers and signage but all have had CCTV (not sure about 001/002) and intermediete door controls fitted.

Sadly, id say the FGW 150/1 refurbishment has been very hit and miss. All units as you say have had new seat cushions, seat covers, seat backs cleaned, Most of the interior panels painted - All except the ceilings which appear to have rather dissapointly just been cleaned, new flooring in 150001 & 002 - But not for the rest of the fleet, and new signage and lighting, CCTV installed? - bar 001/002 and intermediete door controls fitted (which dosent work / is Out Of Use in 001/002). Even 150125 retains its London Midland installed disabled ramp - with the words 'PROPERTY OF LONDON MIDLAND' still painted on.

Sadly, FGW dosent seem to have kpet to it's promise of semi standardising 001 & 002 - Which unfortunatly still seem to be having problems on our line!
 

CC 72100

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Even 150125 retains its London Midland installed disabled ramp - with the words 'PROPERTY OF LONDON MIDLAND' still painted on.

The ex-Silverlink/LOROL ones still warn me how I need to have a valid ticket or Oyster card for my journey, and that 'obstructing the doors can be dangerous'.

Was on a 153 the other day who's disabled ramp was 'PROPERTY OF WALES & WEST' :lol:
 

TEW

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intermediete door controls fitted (which dosent work / is Out Of Use in 001/002).

I've seen them being used on 150002 before. Rather stupidly though they aren't fitted in the middle carriage, where they'd probably be most useful.
 

387star

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Sadly, id say the FGW 150/1 refurbishment has been very hit and miss. All units as you say have had new seat cushions, seat covers, seat backs cleaned, Most of the interior panels painted - All except the ceilings which appear to have rather dissapointly just been cleaned, new flooring in 150001 & 002 - But not for the rest of the fleet, and new signage and lighting, CCTV installed? - bar 001/002 and intermediete door controls fitted (which dosent work / is Out Of Use in 001/002). Even 150125 retains its London Midland installed disabled ramp - with the words 'PROPERTY OF LONDON MIDLAND' still painted on.

Sadly, FGW dosent seem to have kpet to it's promise of semi standardising 001 & 002 - Which unfortunatly still seem to be having problems on our line!

If the seat backs have been painted does this mean they are no longer painted black?
 

507 001

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I wouldn't be so sure about Fgw adding CCTV, northerns ex-lm ones have it too! I'd be surprised if its working.
 

fgwrich

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I've seen them being used on 150002 before. Rather stupidly though they aren't fitted in the middle carriage, where they'd probably be most useful.

You must have been lucky then! As some of the guards ive spoken to seem to find that they sometimes work, and sometimes dont - Just like the two 150/0s really! And yes, fitting them in the middle coach would have made more sense too.

If the seat backs have been painted does this mean they are no longer painted black?

The seat backs are still painted Black, but appear to have been repainted - mostly to hide vandal damage.

CCTV wise, i don't know if FGW has installed any further CCTV in any of it's reccent unit arrivals, but the two 150/0s don't seem to have it installed. Although, they have been fitted with Class 455 style cab air conditioning, which to the guards annoyance, only works when you have the drivers key insterted - leaving the guards with a nice and warm cab. :roll:
 
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TEW

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All the LM and LO arrivals except 001 and 002 have been fitted with CCTV. 150125 and 150129 have had new LED lights fitted as well. I'm not sure if the new West arrivals have been fitted with cab air-con, but in the rest of the west fleet the cab air-con is leading cab only I believe.
 

DarloRich

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Believe the main reason for retaining the 150s was that the 172s couldn't operate the Bedford-Bletchley services and the 153s that were originally to operate the service had insufficent capacity and hence 2 were transferred to FGW. Think long term the plan is for Chiltern to take over the service when the Oxford-Bletchley line is reinstated later in the decade.

As I recall the 150 seats were only recently recovered.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

however the last bit about future service providers is conjecture, albeit sensible conjecture

being used mainly on the LM "appendix route" means the chances of an internal refresh for the 150's are almost 0. Why bother when the returns will be so low
 

MK Tom

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Here's a brain wave - extend the Marston Vale platforms! It won't cost much, you'd only be adding about three metres to some of the stations, not all of them. If/when Chiltern take over you're still going to have this problem as there haven't been 2-car EMUs since the 309s and a 165 won't fit any more than a 170 would.
 

Simon Poole

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I heard from a magazine very recent one and can't remember which one that the plan is for Coventry to Nuneaton to have trains between these two stations to be every 30 minutes and have the Class 150s running them until this line gets electricfield

Personally i think the Class 150s could do with a repaint into the London Midland colours
 

DarloRich

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Here's a brain wave - extend the Marston Vale platforms! It won't cost much, you'd only be adding about three metres to some of the stations, not all of them. If/when Chiltern take over you're still going to have this problem as there haven't been 2-car EMUs since the 309s and a 165 won't fit any more than a 170 would.

No it might not cost that much but it costs more than anyone is willing to spend at the moment.

Also, why bother when you can just keep using the 150's (or something similar) until someone else picks up the bill for enhancement works.
 

Jamie153

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I heard from a magazine very recent one and can't remember which one that the plan is for Coventry to Nuneaton to have trains between these two stations to be every 30 minutes and have the Class 150s running them until this line gets electricfield

Personally i think the Class 150s could do with a repaint into the London Midland colours


It was in the lastest issue of RAIL magazine. I also think they should be repainted into LM colours. Presumably though won't LM need more 150's if there going to operate 2x150's on Cov - Nuneaton line and use the ones they have on current services, Bedford - Bletchley etc ?
 

DarloRich

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It was in the lastest issue of RAIL magazine. I also think they should be repainted into LM colours. Presumably though won't LM need more 150's if there going to operate 2x150's on Cov - Nuneaton line and use the ones they have on current services, Bedford - Bletchley etc ?

we would kind of like to keep our 150's if you don't mind! You Brummies find your own!

BTW when we had a series of 153 failures on the Marston Vale and we got 66% of the LM 150 fleet running for abut a week the punctuality increased no end!

Much easier to get bikes on and off the 150 ;)
 

Jamie153

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BTW when we had a series of 153 failures on the Marston Vale and we got 66% of the LM 150 fleet running for abut a week the punctuality increased no end!
LM's class 153's seem to be failing a lot recently, quite a few cancellations on Cov - Nuneaton line over the past month


 

Wolf_359

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every other day seems to be a train failure on the marston vale line

One of the biggest problems appears to be lack of high speed running. They tiddley bump along the Marston Vale Line barely getting much over 40 mph between stations, with the exeption of a few areas where they might get to 50-55mph.

This seems to be causing problems with oil & coolant circulation which appears to be causing overheating & then engine shutdown. this is on top of the usual things that can & do go wrong on trains.
 

monty9120

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One of the biggest problems appears to be lack of high speed running. They tiddley bump along the Marston Vale Line barely getting much over 40 mph between stations, with the exeption of a few areas where they might get to 50-55mph.

This seems to be causing problems with oil & coolant circulation which appears to be causing overheating & then engine shutdown. this is on top of the usual things that can & do go wrong on trains.

i suppose it doesnt help when there sat at bletchley for a while with its engine running for no real reason
 

MK Tom

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One of the biggest problems appears to be lack of high speed running. They tiddley bump along the Marston Vale Line barely getting much over 40 mph between stations, with the exeption of a few areas where they might get to 50-55mph.

This seems to be causing problems with oil & coolant circulation which appears to be causing overheating & then engine shutdown. this is on top of the usual things that can & do go wrong on trains.

The biggest problem seems to be the lack of a spare - whenever one 153 tops itself we end up with only getting every third service running and a Jeffs minibus doing the rest of the workings. Or a taxi which just takes the biscuit. Happened to me at least three times. LM traded away all their 150s because that was the agreement with the DfT but I have no idea why they decided to slash the 153 fleet too. Between Cov-Nun and Bed-Blet the entire 153 fleet is used up now with the only spare being stuck to the back of a Telford or Rugeley service. Pretty sure 31+mk2+mk2+31 was more reliable than this. Actually I think we got better out of the 117/7s and they were like a Rover Metro towards the end.

Incidentally, Star Trek username and a Marston Vale bubble as your picture - you've just redefined awesome :p
 

150001

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Must say that a 117 with a new interior would be pretty useful right now!
 
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