5x Class 153 conversion to bike and baggage vans for Scotrail

[dmkc]

This seems to have gone a wee bitty quiet... anything doing?

 

[Macwomble]

Appears not.

Could have done with the extra space last Saturday........did Crianlarich to Oban & return..........the 2 car 156s were "cosy" for each journey....lots of backpacks etc, etc....not too many bikes though.

 

[NotATrainspott]

Wasn't summer 2019 the introduction date? The 153s aren't surplus to requirements just yet, with all of the need for accessibility mods and the delayed electrification programmes across GB.

 

[GrimShady]

I really really really hope there will be more than just bike space in the refit. Extra catering facilities is a must.

 

[Wst71Pa2]

153's are in the route clearance part of the sectional appendix, ... Unfortunately so are Pacers

 

[Highlandspring]

They’ve both been in it for years.

 

[alangla]

Scotrail tried enhanced catering on the ex-Hull Turbostars on Inverness runs, it didn't last long. I suspect a class 153 MBSK coach could be a long way off. Fitting some sort of trolley station to keep the coffee hot & beer cold between trips up & down the train could be a goer though

 

[route101]

Scotrail tried enhanced catering on the ex-Hull Turbostars on Inverness runs, it didn't last long. I suspect a class 153 MBSK coach could be a long way off. Fitting some sort of trolley station to keep the coffee hot & beer cold between trips up & down the train could be a goer though

Do the current trollies have a bit where beer is kept cold?

The HSTs appear to have a buffet car

 

[alangla]

Not that I'm aware of - last time I looked it was basically room (read hot if it's a 158) temperature

 

[route101]

Not that I'm aware of - last time I looked it was basically room (read hot if it's a 158) temperature

Yeah , i was wondering in the blue compartment ! Warm can of T , no thanks

 

[Rick1984]

My can of beer on a Waterloo to Pompey train was a lovely room temperature. Could catering companies not at least put them in a cool bag?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

My can of beer on a Waterloo to Pompey train was a lovely room temperature. Could catering companies not at least put them in a cool bag?

Cool bags are only cool for a while. If the trolley person has been on the job for a few hours the stuff won't be cool anymore.

 

[GrimShady]

Scotrail tried enhanced catering on the ex-Hull Turbostars on Inverness runs, it didn't last long. I suspect a class 153 MBSK coach could be a long way off. Fitting some sort of trolley station to keep the coffee hot & beer cold between trips up & down the train could be a goer though

It was never advertised and as such many were entirely unaware of it.

 

[scotraildriver]

The 156s do have a big black box under a seat marked "catering socket". I've never seen a trolley plugged in - anyone know what it was used for?

 

[Rick1984]

Cool bags are only cool for a while. If the trolley person has been on the job for a few hours the stuff won't be cool anymore.

Fair point. Should keep them slightly cooler for a couple of hours though? Leaving them open to the elements doesn't seem a sensible solution though. Especially this day and age.
It's why I don't drink beer on planes anymore. Always warm.

 

[LOL The Irony]

The 156s do have a big black box under a seat marked "catering socket". I've never seen a trolley plugged in - anyone know what it was used for?

Those originate from BR days.

 

[Far north 37]

So this may have been mentioned elsewhere in the thread, but why the hell are DMUs being converted to luggage vans when we currently have a shortage of DMUs and services in GWR land are being regularly short formed because of that?

I wouldn’t use the term it’s because of that i would say its down to each franchises rolling stock plan.

 

[JModulo]

The 156s do have a big black box under a seat marked "catering socket". I've never seen a trolley plugged in - anyone know what it was used for?

Believe these have all since been removed.

 

[AMD]

I think it's fairly safe to say that they have been removed as the MCB in the cab has gone....

 

[NotATrainspott]

So this may have been mentioned elsewhere in the thread, but why the hell are DMUs being converted to luggage vans when we currently have a shortage of DMUs and services in GWR land are being regularly short formed because of that?

The 153s will only leave their existing users once they're no longer required. ScotRail is picking up vehicles which would otherwise be headed for the scrapheap - the 153s are a sort of halfway house between traditional DMUs and Pacers with traditional running gear but a bus-like shell. Accordingly they're much less suitable for refurbishment than other non-Pacer DMUs of the same era.

 

[185]

I think it's fairly safe to say that they have been removed as the MCB in the cab has gone....

Had a certain trolley dolly plugged the urn into the lamp sockets (2A max - laptops etc) in first class some years ago and tripped the entire vehicle out, (not just the sockets mcb) plunging passengers into darkness.

 

[Wivenswold]

I can't imagine it would take long to train drivers for the 153's. There a simple bit of kit and a few drivers I know enjoy their days out in them.

 

[RLBH]

Scotrail tried enhanced catering on the ex-Hull Turbostars on Inverness runs, it didn't last long. I suspect a class 153 MBSK coach could be a long way off. Fitting some sort of trolley station to keep the coffee hot & beer cold between trips up & down the train could be a goer though

It was never advertised and as such many were entirely unaware of it.

When was this tried? I distinctly remember seeing the ex-Hull Trains units (not knowing their history) and thinking it was a brilliant idea that ScotRail was finally getting a buffet on these trains... Then of course they were ripped out. I don't think I ever saw one open.

 

[Highlandspring]

When was this tried?

Winter 2005, the units were allocated onto specific diagrams and the services were shown in the timetable as having hot foot available. From memory it lasted less than a year before they gave up. The booked services were:

Monday - Friday
0648 Inverness to Edinburgh
0711 Glasgow Queen St to Inverness
1010 Glasgow Queen St to Inverness
1052 Inverness to Edinburgh
1140 Edinburgh to Inverness
1340 Edinburgh to Inverness
1440 Inverness to Edinburgh
1655 Inverness to Glasgow Queen St
1740 Edinburgh to Inverness
1831 Inverness to Edinburgh
1940 Edinburgh to Inverness

Saturday
0648 Inverness to Edinburgh
0711 Glasgow Queen St to Inverness
1052 Inverness to Edinburgh
1340 Edinburgh to Inverness
1655 Inverness to Glasgow Queen St
1740 Edinburgh to Inverness
1831 Inverness to Edinburgh

Sunday
1440 Glasgow Queen St to Inverness
1615 Inverness to Glasgow Queen St

 

[GrimShady]

Have ScotRail drawn up any refit plans as yet?

Anyone with some inside intel?

 

[InOban]

Obviously the project is outside their franchise commitments, so I think they have put a proposal to Transport Scotland, and they have to decide whether to fund it, both the conversions and the ongoing costs.

 

[GrimShady]

Obviously the project is outside their franchise commitments, so I think they have put a proposal to Transport Scotland, and they have to decide whether to fund it, both the conversions and the ongoing costs.

I was under the impression it was on request of TS. Mention was made in one of the latest HITRANS reports. There was even mention of the possible use of HSTs at weekends given that they had sufficient areas for bikes.

 

[AlistairCowell]

Nobody knows yet, but there is a proposal of the refurbished interior of the Class 153 on Angel Trains website:
http://www.angelrailway.com/class-153.html

It does not have a toilet on refurbished plans, but it is planned to be coupled to a Class 156 on WHL services anyway,
so all WHL services would still have at least an accessible toilet.

Even then, ScotRail Class 153s may still receive an accessible toilet when going through conversion and refurbishment.

 

[jopsuk]

Given the commitment to "carrying cyclists" I'd imagine the Scotrail ones may have a considerably larger cycle area and less seating than that

 

[Aictos]

I can't imagine it would take long to train drivers for the 153's. There a simple bit of kit and a few drivers I know enjoy their days out in them.

You sure? I'm surprised they would enjoy being squashed in the smaller cab at one end!