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Creation of class 230 DEMUs from ex-LU D78s by Vivarail

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olympus

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There's a line in this week's Railway Herald about the Bletchley to Bedford route. "It is understood that the use of Class 150 DMUs on the Bletchley to Bedford route ceased as of 16th February, with single car Class 153s taking over until the Vivarail Class 230s start public services, due for some point next month.". Don't know where that came from but it sounds positive.
 
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Bletchleyite

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There's a line in this week's Railway Herald about the Bletchley to Bedford route. "It is understood that the use of Class 150 DMUs on the Bletchley to Bedford route ceased as of 16th February, with single car Class 153s taking over until the Vivarail Class 230s start public services, due for some point next month.". Don't know where that came from but it sounds positive.

Class 150 use did not cease as of then. Maybe the Monday!

Edit: or maybe it did, I’m getting my weekends mixed up.
 
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causton

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Speaking to a couple of Bletchley traincrew, the 150s are imminently leaving. So that will be fun only having the two 153s, but I have not heard any bad things about the 230s from traincrew who have tried them. By the sounds of it they are not going to be all out by May however.

The diagrams officially show as 230s from May timetable change though. (There is also a space for 350/4s though so that doesn't mean anything...)
 

Bletchleyite

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Speaking to a couple of Bletchley traincrew, the 150s are imminently leaving. So that will be fun only having the two 153s, but I have not heard any bad things about the 230s from traincrew who have tried them. By the sounds of it they are not going to be all out by May however.

The diagrams officially show as 230s from May timetable change though. (There is also a space for 350/4s though so that doesn't mean anything...)

Where are the 150s to go? Northern?

The 153s will be a problem alone, which is the whole reason the 230s are being purchased and they aren't just PRM modifying a couple of 153s (including removing the bog). The school trains will leave people behind. I hope they've got some buses on standby.
 

HLE

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Where are the 150s to go? Northern?

The 153s will be a problem alone, which is the whole reason the 230s are being purchased and they aren't just PRM modifying a couple of 153s (including removing the bog). The school trains will leave people behind. I hope they've got some buses on standby.

Get people right down the aisle, 3-4 in the bog, 4 under the luggage rack, 10 in each vestibule and you'll be fine! Those 153's just seem to expand!
 

anamyd

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Where are the 150s to go? Northern?

The 153s will be a problem alone, which is the whole reason the 230s are being purchased and they aren't just PRM modifying a couple of 153s (including removing the bog). The school trains will leave people behind. I hope they've got some buses on standby.
The 150s are indeed going to Northern. Once those and GWR's last 150/1s go to Northern, Northern will have all 50 150/1s.
 

jonesy3001

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everyone makes a mistake, that's why i always put "hope it's the right thread" when i post, think the last 3 comments should of been in the northern refurb thread instead of this one.
 

61653 HTAFC

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everyone makes a mistake, that's why i always put "hope it's the right thread" when i post, think the last 3 comments should of been in the northern refurb thread instead of this one.
Shows how easily topics can drift, as it was initially related to 230s with regard to Marston Vale!
 

Derek145

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Speaking to a couple of Bletchley traincrew, the 150s are imminently leaving. So that will be fun only having the two 153s, but I have not heard any bad things about the 230s from traincrew who have tried them. By the sounds of it they are not going to be all out by May however.

The diagrams officially show as 230s from May timetable change though. (There is also a space for 350/4s though so that doesn't mean anything...)
London Northwestern Railway yesterday replied to a question on Twitter and said they were planned to run for the December 2019 timetable!
 

LowLevel

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Yes but for some reason some types of rail enthusiast and indeed commuter have got it into their heads that Twitter teams are a definitive source of any information. They sometimes struggle with things that are within their remit like tickets like alone strategic rolling stock decisions.

Leave them to answer the simple questions in real time that they're there for rather than bugging them about questions that they'll want to try and be helpful and answer but probably won't be equipped to.
 

Jozhua

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Perhaps they should strip all the seats out of one. You could fit everyone standing up in a 153 :lol::lol::lol:

Then fit to go straight up to Scotland!

They need to strip the entire body off the 153 and replace it with a cage to maximise standing room. To ensure the trains can be cleaned quickly (and therefore turned around faster) and dirt remains concealed, a layer of hay on the floor would work well...
 

Struner

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:lol::lol:
They need to strip the entire body off the 153 and replace it with a cage to maximise standing room. To ensure the trains can be cleaned quickly (and therefore turned around faster) and dirt remains concealed, a layer of hay on the floor would work well...
You must be a townsman. Hay is to expensive for that. Straw would be used. :lol:
 

DarloRich

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There's a line in this week's Railway Herald about the Bletchley to Bedford route. "It is understood that the use of Class 150 DMUs on the Bletchley to Bedford route ceased as of 16th February, with single car Class 153s taking over until the Vivarail Class 230s start public services, due for some point next month.". Don't know where that came from but it sounds positive.

Someone better tell lnwr that the 150 was in use tonight. Dont know where that story came from but it is rather wrong!

Speaking to a couple of Bletchley traincrew, the 150s are imminently leaving. So that will be fun only having the two 153s, but I have not heard any bad things about the 230s from traincrew who have tried them. By the sounds of it they are not going to be all out by May however.

The diagrams officially show as 230s from May timetable change though. (There is also a space for 350/4s though so that doesn't mean anything...)

Heard the same story recently but the 150's are still here. The 153 are horrible and break down all the time. Best line up the shanks pony replacement service again!
 
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krus_aragon

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Has anyone heard anything from official sources different from that date shown above in the last day or so?
Follow-up replies to that tweet backpedalled a bit and said by December 2019, or between May and December. I don't think there will have been anything else official since.
 

DarloRich

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Follow-up replies to that tweet backpedalled a bit and said by December 2019, or between May and December. I don't think there will have been anything else official since.

they have gone very quiet. The correct answer to the question was:

We are working very hard to bring these new trains into service however because testing and training are still underway we don't, yet, have a firm entry into service date. We will let you know as soon as we do.
 

Neen Sollars

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Photo shows a 165 probably going in for PRM mods. But in the background there appears to be a substantial extension to the Vivarail workshops or undercover storage for out-shopped upcycled units. See large white canvass on steel building in the background with three access doors. Two old D78 stock outside awaiting entry into the workshops. I think Vivarail also use the old hangar in the foreground. Order currently being worked on is 5x3 car DEMU units for Transport for Wales, delivery of which is due to start soon, and as the new TfW livery looks the best around they should look great.

http://www.petertandy.co.uk/165037_2_5Z56_LM_030319

Thanks to Peter Tandy
 

HLE

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Might as well send that bubble car down to Bletchley.
 
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