The 153 pairings have been used for the Nottingham to Liverpool section as they can then operate as paired with a PRM compliant 158.
The therefore released 158's have moved onto what was previously single or double 153 work to comply with the recent changes to accessibility regulations.
The 153 pairings have been used for the Nottingham to Liverpool section as they can then operate as paired with a PRM compliant 158.
The therefore released 158's have moved onto what was previously single or double 153 work to comply with the recent changes to accessibility regulations.
153s are pretty grim even for the Liverpool - Nottingham (trust me, I’ve done it), but it’ll probably continue until the “new” [sic] stock (170s) arrive due the PRM issues mentioned above. Annoyingly the reservations are usually all placed in the 158, leaving those who have probably paid more for walk-up fares in the 153s. Sadly, as is often the case in this country these days, catering to a small minority ends up making the whole experience worse for everyone.The 153 are a huge downgrade from the 158. The seats are awful and cramped, there's no tray table hence it's impossible to work on my laptop when travelling to and from work, how long will this last for? Do EMR think a 153 is acceptable for the journey between Norwich and Liverpool?
Reservations are in the 158 as that works through from Norwich to Liverpool. I always thought it was to EMT’s credit that they didn’t reserve the strengthening unit added at Nottingham. The likes of XC please note.153s are pretty grim even for the Liverpool - Nottingham (trust me, I’ve done it), but it’ll probably continue until the “new” [sic] stock (170s) arrive due the PRM issues mentioned above. Annoyingly the reservations are usually all placed in the 158, leaving those who have probably paid more for walk-up fares in the 153s. Sadly, as is often the case in this country these days, catering to a small minority ends up making the whole experience worse for everyone.
So in other words, EMR are not on top of the maintenance tasks...The 156 plus 153 combos are due to a number of 156s and 153s having defects requiring them to run in multiple (door faults, cab faults etc). There is also at least one 158 (799) that can't couple at either end.
And customers should just suck it up and accept the situation? Sounds more like p***-poor planning to me.I don't think anyone is pretending it's ideal - EMR are being quite clear that the 15x fleet is extremely tired and requires a lot of fiddling around to provide enough trains for service each day.
All hail the 170s - NOT! So as we know, EMR customers are getting well-worn Turbonasties back, a type that left the East Midlands franchise well over a decade ago. The whole “new trains” thing that Abelio supposedly brought to the table was all a smoke-and-mirrors job designed to appeal to the non-knowledgable public, with “new” really meaning world-weary 170s, 180s, 360s and HSTs - and the only truly new stock coming two years down the line to replace the current newest type in the fleet.The first 170s arrive in March so hopefully things will start to improve - the last 2 Anglia 156s also arrive this week and 156405 should be back from works attention before too long.
So in other words, EMR are not on top of the maintenance tasks...
And customers should just suck it up and accept the situation? Sounds more like p***-poor planning to me.
All hail the 170s - NOT! So as we know, EMR customers are getting well-worn Turbonasties back, a type that left the East Midlands franchise well over a decade ago. The whole “new trains” thing that Abelio supposedly brought to the table was all a smoke-and-mirrors job designed to appeal to the non-knowledgable public, with “new” really meaning world-weary 170s, 180s, 360s and HSTs - and the only truly new stock coming two years down the line to replace the current newest type in the fleet.
At the moment the Sheffield-Manchester section of the Norwich-Liverpool route is like chalk and cheese. Risk EMR: clapped out, shabby and uncomfortable 156s and 153s, feel lucky if you get a 158. Risk Northern: clapped out 150s and 142s. Or amazingly, now there are more double units running, TPEs pretty comfortable 185s which even have Wi-fi! Really EMR and Northern should be classed as ORCATS robbers on this part of the route at the moment.
Indeed, I never thought I’d be praising TPE but that’s why I said “at the moment” - I appreciate from firsthand experience that TPE has been pretty bad in the recent past, to the point where EMR running pairs of 158s was preferable. But now the ball is moving to the other court. I guess the reality is that EMR in particular has no real incentive to invest in beyond Sheffield to Liverpool (or maybe even beyond Nottingham) route as it’s likely to be transferred in the not too distant future.All 3 operators have their problems.
Does that mean the first two departures were cancelled ?2 x 158s failed at Boston this morning which hasn’t helped today.
Does that mean the first two departures were cancelled ?
It will improve dwell time for a start due to the door layout and theres still questions about the possibility of TPE taking over the liv-nott sectionAs far as the Liverpools are concerned, surely the arrival of the 170s won't offer any real improvement.
I understand they will be a mixture of 2-car and 3-car sets so the best that Liverpool services get will be 3-cars.
How much of a reduction will this be on what was the norm of 2 x 158s? Also, there will be occasions when only a 2-car is available (as is often the case with XC on the Cardiffs) and I imagine EMR won't want them to be coupled to any others due to no gangway connections.
Aren't the Anglia 170s fairly low density due to the dhaving a generous number of tables? It seems to me they could create as many problems as they solve!
As far as the Liverpools are concerned, surely the arrival of the 170s won't offer any real improvement.
I understand they will be a mixture of 2-car and 3-car sets so the best that Liverpool services get will be 3-cars.
How much of a reduction will this be on what was the norm of 2 x 158s? Also, there will be occasions when only a 2-car is available (as is often the case with XC on the Cardiffs) and I imagine EMR won't want them to be coupled to any others due to no gangway connections.
Aren't the Anglia 170s fairly low density due to having a generous number of tables? It seems to me they could create as many problems as they solve!
The Liverpool to Nottingham section is being moved to a (yet to be announced) other franchise in the next couple of years so I would guess EMR won't use the 170s that they are introducing, on that line unless they really really have to due to problems with other units.
The Liverpool to Nottingham section is being moved to a (yet to be announced) other franchise in the next couple of years so I would guess EMR won't use the 170s that they are introducing, on that line unless they really really have to due to problems with other units.
I do agree but how many people really make that entire journey?Do EMR think a 153 is acceptable for the journey between Norwich and Liverpool?
As far as the Liverpools are concerned, surely the arrival of the 170s won't offer any real improvement.
I understand they will be a mixture of 2-car and 3-car sets so the best that Liverpool services get will be 3-cars.
How much of a reduction will this be on what was the norm of 2 x 158s? Also, there will be occasions when only a 2-car is available (as is often the case with XC on the Cardiffs) and I imagine EMR won't want them to be coupled to any others due to no gangway connections.
Aren't the Anglia 170s fairly low density due to having a generous number of tables? It seems to me they could create as many problems as they solve!
As far as the Liverpools are concerned, surely the arrival of the 170s won't offer any real improvement.
I understand they will be a mixture of 2-car and 3-car sets so the best that Liverpool services get will be 3-cars.
How much of a reduction will this be on what was the norm of 2 x 158s? Also, there will be occasions when only a 2-car is available (as is often the case with XC on the Cardiffs) and I imagine EMR won't want them to be coupled to any others due to no gangway connections.
Aren't the Anglia 170s fairly low density due to having a generous number of tables? It seems to me they could create as many problems as they solve!
Saw a white and blue livery Class 158 (I Think) with EMR Lettering at Whitwell this afternoon heading to Worksop
Anyone know where that livery has come from please ??