EMR Regional and Connect refurbishments

[ChrisC]

That's shocking, why is the fleet in such a state?

It could be because of the age of EMR regional fleet. Some of the 170’s they have received do often sound a bit rough.

 

[Aspen90]

No investment - as people leave the shed they aren’t being replaced. One of the shift managers looked so stressed out the other day. Said he started with 34 people, he’s lost 6 which haven’t been replaced and he had another 3 off sick. Prioritise brake pads is what he told me. Apologised to me saying he’s embarrassed they’re going out like this… Not good at all.

 

[yorksrob]

There you have it - if you haven't got the staff !

 

[voyager1]

When the 360s do get refurbished, will it result in weeks/months of short-formed "4 car" services? (don't know how many trains would be done at once)

 

[Jacob Porrett]

170503 has unfortunately been failing tests this week.

 

[DanielTheEMid]

170503 has unfortunately been failing tests this week.

That’s unfortunate. Hopefully everything gets sorted quickly, and also, have we found out which unit is next in line?

 

[Jacob Porrett]

That’s unfortunate. Hopefully everything gets sorted quickly, and also, have we found out which unit is next in line?

I'm not sure myself which unit is next sorry. Don't know if anyone else might know.

 

[Russel]

170503 has unfortunately been failing tests this week.

What do these tests involve?

 

[LowLevel]

I'm not sure myself which unit is next sorry. Don't know if anyone else might know.

170502

 

[Jacob Porrett]

170502

Thank you

 

[T74]

When’s the first 158 been released seems to have gone quiet on that front .

 

[bunnahabhain]

When’s the first 158 been released seems to have gone quiet on that front .

Soon, it'll need an axle/bogie change before it re-enters traffic. The second unit is also down at Bristol now. At some stage soon the other ROSCO fleet should start being done at Eastcroft at the same time, so the 158s will be done fairly rapidly going forwards.

 

[JakeMurphy]

Has it escaped today? A 5D70 is running to Etches Park..

 

[transportphoto]

Has it escaped today? A 5D70 is running to Etches Park..

Whatever it is, it’s taking the unusually direct route! Previously I believe paths have taken them somewhat around the houses.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Has it escaped today? A 5D70 is running to Etches Park..

It did yes by the looks of it. Someone has allocated 170503 to it.

I can't see a inbound working to Crewe however for the replacement 170.

 

[43055]

It did yes by the looks of it. Someone has allocated 170503 to it.

I can't see a inbound working to Crewe however for the replacement 170.

Looks like this is the return path

Realtime Trains | 5K70 2040 Etches Park Sdgs to Crewe C.S. (L&Nwr Site) | 25/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 5K70 2040 departure from Etches Park Sdgs to Crewe C.S. (L&Nwr Site) on 25/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Whatever it is, it’s taking the unusually direct route! Previously I believe paths have taken them somewhat around the houses.

The North Staffs is not open on Sunday mornings so round the houses was probably the next best option along with route knowledge for the Driver.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Looks like this is the return path

Realtime Trains | 5K70 2040 Etches Park Sdgs to Crewe C.S. (L&Nwr Site) | 25/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 5K70 2040 departure from Etches Park Sdgs to Crewe C.S. (L&Nwr Site) on 25/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The North Staffs is not open on Sunday mornings so round the houses was probably the next best option along with route knowledge for the Driver.

Thank you.

Can confirm 170502 is at Crewe depot now.

 

[liamf656]

Thank you.

Can confirm 170502 is at Crewe depot now.

Good job, I started doubting Realtimetrains then...

 

[DanielTheEMid]

Just happened to be on 170501 from Doncaster to Lincoln. Really nice to be on it again considering it’s a massive improvement to the old LM interior it sported for many years.

 

[reecestrains]

Just happened to be on 170501 from Doncaster to Lincoln. Really nice to be on it again considering it’s a massive improvement to the old LM interior it sported for many years.

The ceiling panels are still looking filthy there.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

The ceiling panels are still looking filthy there.

Always will be unless they are deeped cleaned.

 

[RailWonderer]

Just happened to be on 170501 from Doncaster to Lincoln. Really nice to be on it again considering it’s a massive improvement to the old LM interior it sported for many years.

I take it the legroom is much improved from the comfortable but cramped Lazzerinis. While it looks like a half job with the ceilings still dirty the important thing is the seats and carpets are all completely new, most of the ex-LM ones were looking very tatty.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I don't understand why it's so difficult to instigate a deep clean including the hard to reach bits like ceiling panels and stuff as part of this. Seems extremely short-sighted

 

[vuzzeho]

I don't understand why it's so difficult to instigate a deep clean including the hard to reach bits like ceiling panels and stuff as part of this. Seems extremely short-sighted

Costs money.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Costs money.

So does new seats. If you're going to do a job do it properly.

Most likely I suspect this was an erroneous omission from the spec, which is an issue in these contracted-out days. In BR days they'd just have done it anyway.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Costs money.

Cleaning is not something that should be avoided on account of it costing money.

 

[FrontSideBus]

I take it the legroom is much improved from the comfortable but cramped Lazzerinis. While it looks like a half job with the ceilings still dirty the important thing is the seats and carpets are all completely new, most of the ex-LM ones were looking very tatty.

Is that what seats these are? I recently travelled on an EMR 170 out of Liverpool Lime St and found these seats to be very nice indeed.
I was actually quite amazed tbh after getting used to the modern ironing boards being fitted nowadays!

 

[reecestrains]

I don't understand why it's so difficult to instigate a deep clean including the hard to reach bits like ceiling panels and stuff as part of this. Seems extremely short-sighted

Same issue with ScotRail's 170's. Those are filthy on the ceiling panels and overhead luggage racks.

 

[bunnahabhain]

Is that what seats these are? I recently travelled on an EMR 170 out of Liverpool Lime St and found these seats to be very nice indeed.
I was actually quite amazed tbh after getting used to the modern ironing boards being fitted nowadays!

No those are the Chapmans fitted to the 170/2 fleet. The current plan is that they will retain those seats although it always seems to be a changing plan, the last discussion I had on it was that the cost to retain them is pretty much the same as having new Fisa seats fitted and would reduce the need to retain multiple spare types.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Is that what seats these are? I recently travelled on an EMR 170 out of Liverpool Lime St and found these seats to be very nice indeed.
I was actually quite amazed tbh after getting used to the modern ironing boards being fitted nowadays!

No, those are actually original Chapman seats on an unrefurbished Class 170/2. I'm surprised you were pleased, because they're in an awful state. They were refurbished by Greater Anglia about ten years ago (but still have Anglia Railways and National Express signage), before being passed to Transport for Wales where the lovely Valleys clientele pulled off several of the armrests and tables. And then EMR got them a year or two ago.

No those are the Chapmans fitted to the 170/2 fleet. The current plan is that they will retain those seats although it always seems to be a changing plan, the last discussion I had on it was that the cost to retain them is pretty much the same as having new Fisa seats fitted and would reduce the need to retain multiple spare types.

Beat me to it, and the tables on the Chapmans are rubbish and pointless. At least the Lazarini ones are both large and robust. Why must TOCs cheapen and ruin plans by trying to cut costs? A homogeneous refurbished Turbostar fleet with consistent FISA Lean seating would be much better than simply fitting them to the /5s.