It's good that the refurbs are going ahead, but can anyone explain why 150/2s are often twinned with 150/1s or Pacers on routes such as Piccadilly-Sheffield where the conductor is then unable to sell and check tickets in half the train? The half of the train that all savvy passengers will get into after Piccadilly, safe in the knowledge there's no barrier at Sheffield to catch them, even when all the stations finally get ticket machines? A pair of 150/2s would surely help to solve that one.
I was at Stockport for a time recently and noticed many 150/1s paired with 150/2s, but didnt see any 150/2s running together.