Been reading the latest edition of RAIL Magazine (issue 1024; 11-26 December) where on page 19 they write the following:
There’s also little indication of the timescale for disposal so Network Rail can’t be in a rush. Looking at it, I can only see it going to the scrapper’s torch but I’m also wondering if heritage railways could value it as an engineering asset, especially as its equipment might be considered old tech for NR but revolutionary for HR.
Came as a bit of a surprise to me however I couldn’t find news or discussion elsewhere regarding this, especially on RAIL’s online site so departmental news must be relatively unimportant or Network Rail would rather keep it hush-hush.NR Class 150 to be withdrawn
Network Rail has confirmed that its two-car Class 150-derivative Infrastructure Monitoring train will be withdrawn and disposed of. The two-car diesel multiple unit (950001) was built as part of the Sprinter production run of the mid-1980s purposely for use as a track monitoring unit. It was new in 1987 with vehicles DB999600/601.
Network Rail Programme Manager Mark Chestney told RAIL: “We plan to replace 950001 with a two-car 153 next year. The 950 is unique, whereas we now have so much more efficient to have a fleet of the same type of trains. Also, the 950 has technology on board that is no longer supported.”
There’s also little indication of the timescale for disposal so Network Rail can’t be in a rush. Looking at it, I can only see it going to the scrapper’s torch but I’m also wondering if heritage railways could value it as an engineering asset, especially as its equipment might be considered old tech for NR but revolutionary for HR.