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Northern Class 331: Construction/Introduction Updates

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Harvey B

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Quite probably - both drivers and conductors training has started on the west side, whereas no training has started on the east.
I agree, wasn't driver training happening way before the coupler issue occurred, either way I can see the first 331 in service on the west by mid June at the earliest and late June at the latest with the ones on the Leeds side entering service a month later.
 
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Neptune

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I agree, wasn't driver training happening way before the coupler issue occurred, either way I can see the first 331 in service on the west by mid June at the earliest and late June at the latest with the ones on the Leeds side entering service a month later.

As I said. No confirmed timescale so best not to speculate as to when they enter service on either side of the Pennines. It could be June, it could be December. Nobody actually knows.
 

xotGD

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Let me make sure I've got this right:

Neville Hill 331s will initially work Doncaster services, cascading 321/2s to strengthen the pool for Airedale / Wharfedale services.

As further 331s arrive the 321/2 fleet will be withdrawn.

Following the platform extensions, 4 car 331s will be replaced with 3 car 331s (working mostly in pairs), with Doncaster services then switched to 333s.

Timescale tbc.
 

rich-leeds

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I reckon that's more or less it. Although I think the plan remains for the 321/322 fleet to go off-lease as planned in the coming months, so we'll see the 4-car 331s on Airedale and Wharfedale services to supplement the core 333 pool sooner rather than later. It appears to be December 2021 at least until the 6-car formations can operate, so we'll have a few years of this arrangement.
 

Harvey B

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As I said. No confirmed timescale so best not to speculate as to when they enter service on either side of the Pennines. It could be June, it could be December. Nobody actually knows.
I can't see any reason why Northern would have the first unit enter service (on the Leeds side) any later than the end of July. They're late into service as it is already. Also, I don't think Northern would wait until December to bring them into service (as a whole) as it would be too late based on the amount of units that Northern have left to go for PRM mods. As I say unless anyone at Northern confirms different I'm still speculating based on what has been said in this froum before on Driver training and the coupler issue.
 
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61653 HTAFC

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I can't see any reason why Northern would have the first unit enter service (on the Leeds side) any later than the end of July. They're late into service as it is already. Also, I don't think Northern would wait until December to bring them into service as it would be too late based on the amount of units that Northern have left to go for PRM mods. As I say unless anyone at Northern confirms different I'm still speculating based on what has been said in this froum before on Driver training and the coupler issue.
All Yorkshire electric units are already 2020-compliant.
 

Harvey B

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All Yorkshire electric units are already 2020-compliant.
Even though I did say the 331's on the Leeds side I didn't mean the EMU's on the Leeds side, but having 331s on the Leeds to Doncaster's could mean that Aire/Wharfedale services can be operated by either a 333 or a 321/322 instead of having a DMU to cover a morning peak service. If im also honest, the thing I mentioned about PRM mods also (and mainly) goes to the 331s on the Manchester side aswell as going to the 195s.
 

JDEunos

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Saw 331105 at Wakefield Westgate this morning. Looked really nice, but a 2+2 layout of seating with an awful lot of tables does not really seem appropriate for this train”s proposed commuter lines (ie. Doncaster to Leeds) - do they all have this layout?
 

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driver_m

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Saw 331105 at Wakefield Westgate this morning. Looked really nice, but a 2+2 layout of seating with an awful lot of tables does not really seem appropriate for this train”s proposed commuter lines (ie. Doncaster to Leeds) - do they all have this layout?

Can always have a 150 and send the 331 back over this side of the Pennines if you’re not happy! ;);)
 

Neptune

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Saw 331105 at Wakefield Westgate this morning. Looked really nice, but a 2+2 layout of seating with an awful lot of tables does not really seem appropriate for this train”s proposed commuter lines (ie. Doncaster to Leeds) - do they all have this layout?
Yes. Unfortunately these units are ‘one size doesn’t quite fit all’. Low density seating appropriate for longer distance services combined with poor luggage space appropriate for commuter services.
 

61653 HTAFC

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Yes. Unfortunately these units are ‘one size doesn’t quite fit all’. Low density seating appropriate for longer distance services combined with poor luggage space appropriate for commuter services.
Hopefully someone will see sense and bring the 323s "home" so they can gulp up the Airedale crowds just as was planned when the wires first went up!
 

433N

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I'm looking forward to seeing a 331 running round with a 142 rush hour strengthener.

I hope Northern hasn't been so short-sighted that they didn't specify the possibility of coupling to a pacer
 

sprinterguy

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I'm looking forward to seeing a 331 running round with a 142 rush hour strengthener.

I hope Northern hasn't been so short-sighted that they didn't specify the possibility of coupling to a pacer
The Northern class 331s, and 195s, are fitted with Dellner couplers. Ergo, they won't be compatible with any of the existing Northern fleets, except possibly the class 333s in emergency situations only.

Plus combined EMU+DMU formations have never been normal practice.
 

anamyd

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The Northern class 331s, and 195s, are fitted with Dellner couplers. Ergo, they won't be compatible with any of the existing Northern fleets, except possibly the class 333s in emergency situations only.

Plus combined EMU+DMU formations have never been normal practice.
Such a serious reply to that kind of post :lol:
 

433N

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My apologies for breach of netiquette ...

... but, in real life, who ever does a wind-up with a smile on their face ? It would defeat the object. :)
 

sprinterguy

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My apologies for breach of netiquette ...

... but, in real life, who ever does a wind-up with a smile on their face ? It would defeat the object. :)
Very true, and it certainly reeled me in. :lol: My brain may not be fully switched on today... :oops:
 
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