Northern Class 331: Construction/Introduction Updates

superkev · 25 Sep 2019

Are the three 4 car 331s, 103, 111, 112 still parked up west side?
With the 321s and 322s still in use I wonder why they have they not transferred east. Lack of drivers east side or siding space perhaps.
K

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ed1971 · 25 Sep 2019

LeylandLen said:
There has been and still is a lot of new house building in the Leyland/south Preston area ; I assume its not the only place to experience this in the N/W.Obviously some will be commuters to from Liverpool/Manchester , both accesible direct from this area.Plus more being tempted to use 'new' trains,hence the rise in passengers !!

You are right. There is a lot of house building going on everywhere at a time when more woodlands and trees are needed to combat pollution!

driver_m · 25 Sep 2019

superkev said:
Are the three 4 car 331s, 103, 111, 112 still parked up west side?
With the 321s and 322s still in use I wonder why they have they not transferred east. Lack of drivers east side or siding space perhaps.
K

One of them is definitely sat on Edge Hill, but I think there is only a single 4 car here now. Unless some are tucked inside the shed or pit.

Grannyjoans · 25 Sep 2019

Redmike said:
I can't believe that 2 car 195s were ordered. Anything less than 3 cars is a recipe for overcrowding unless it's guaranteed to run as 2 x 2 cars and with Northern's record for shortforming thats not likely.

2-car 195's might be used on services such as the Kirkby branch.

Andyh82 · 25 Sep 2019

js1000 said:
Additional carriages are being explored but will only happen if passenger numbers and satisfaction pick-up. I suspect it'll be part of the next franchise. The problem is I think any growth could take a few years as it'll take time for word to get around that Northern trains "aren't as bad as they used to be" - particularly after the May 2018 omnishambles which (in my view) did irrevocable damage for Arriva and the Northern franchise. TransPennine Express really went places following the introduction of the Desiros in 2005 so it's not unreasonable to expect passenger growth now Northern actually has trains people would want to travel on.

But of course satisfaction will be severely dented when the much awaited brand new trains turn up, and it’s just 2 carriages.
I agree with the poster that nothing should be built as 2 car these days, something Greater Anglia realised.

The Northern Star · 26 Sep 2019

The future is here for the Hadfield Line AND HAZEL GROVE!!!.

Hadfield Line:

3Z01: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S02268/2019/09/30/advanced

3Z02: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S02270/2019/10/01/advanced

Hazel Grove Line:

3Z03: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S02272/2019/10/01/advanced

3Z04 (To Crewe): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S02271/2019/10/01/advanced

3Z05: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S02267/2019/10/01/advanced

Bovverboy · 26 Sep 2019

Grannyjoans said:
2-car 195's might be used on services such as the Kirkby branch.

Out of interest, do you know which journeys on the Kirkby branch are currently diagrammed for 2-car sets?

Bovverboy · 26 Sep 2019

Jack Brown said:
The future is here for the Hadfield Line AND HAZEL GROVE!!!.

Hadfield Line:

3Z01: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S02268/2019/09/30/advanced

3Z02: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S02270/2019/10/01/advanced

Hazel Grove Line:

3Z03: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S02272/2019/10/01/advanced

3Z04 (To Crewe): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S02271/2019/10/01/advanced

3Z05: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S02267/2019/10/01/advanced

Are they clearance runs? (For 331s, I presume).

jonesy3001 · 26 Sep 2019

Bovverboy said:
Out of interest, do you know which journeys on the Kirkby branch are currently diagrammed for 2-car sets?

Don't think you'll see a 331 on the kirkby branch.

Bovverboy · 26 Sep 2019

jonesy3001 said:
Don't think you'll see a 331 on the kirkby branch.

Yes, things do seem to have got a bit off-topic. Unnecessarily, checking back.

Harvey B · 27 Sep 2019

just seen a video on youtube and even though they use the same voice as the 32xs the PIS doesn't pronounce Frizinghall as Frys-ing-hall but instead pronounces it the way that it's spelled

Islandexpress · 27 Sep 2019

For those who take interest, the 331 PA pronounces Frizinghall rhyming with ‘frizz’, rather than ‘frize’!

Neptune · 27 Sep 2019

This happened with the station PA’s when they were renewed a few years ago. Network Rail sorted it fairly quickly. I wonder if Northern will do the same. I won’t hold my breath.

ed1971 · 28 Sep 2019

Bovverboy said:
Out of interest, do you know which journeys on the Kirkby branch are currently diagrammed for 2-car sets?

The daytime Wigan Wallgate to Kirkby shuttle is usually a two car 150 or sometimes a 142. The early morning and evening through services to/from Manchester Vic often have four carriages which often are a 142 or 142/150 combi.

61653 HTAFC · 28 Sep 2019

Islandexpress said:
For those who take interest, the 331 PA pronounces Frizinghall rhyming with ‘frizz’, rather than ‘frize’!

Neptune said:
This happened with the station PA’s when they were renewed a few years ago. Network Rail sorted it fairly quickly. I wonder if Northern will do the same. I won’t hold my breath.

A similar thing happened with TPE's recorded announcements for Slaithwaite, and was changed pretty quickly.

Not sure Northern will be as prompt with the correction!

northernchris · 28 Sep 2019

61653 HTAFC said:
A similar thing happened with TPE's recorded announcements for Slaithwaite, and was changed pretty quickly.

Not sure Northern will be as prompt with the correction!

It surprises me how often place names are mispronounced as surely they are checked first. Especially in cases where the correct pronunciation existed in the previous system!

Deerfold · 28 Sep 2019

northernchris said:
It surprises me how often place names are mispronounced as surely they are checked first. Especially in cases where the correct pronunciation existed in the previous system!

Despite me mentioning it to Northern's predecessors, Sowerby Bridge has always been mispronounced.

DJH1971 · 28 Sep 2019

331008 at St Helens Central today on the 1537 LIV-BPN service.

I was on this train and boy this is a world apart from the 319 & 323's.

The ride and acceleration was just sweet.

Bovverboy · 28 Sep 2019

DJH1971 said:
331008 at St Helens Central today on the 1537 LIV-BPN service.

So what's the tally now for 331s in service on Blackpools? IIRC 331001/7/8 were early sightings, then 331005 was seen at Lime Street looking for all the world as though it was in service, but no-one subsequently reported seeing it moving. Any more?
Is two units out still the daily maximum? I really must sample them myself.

DJH1971 · 28 Sep 2019

Bovverboy said:
So what's the tally now for 331s in service on Blackpools? IIRC 331001/7/8 were early sightings, then 331005 was seen at Lime Street looking for all the world as though it was in service, but no-one subsequently reported seeing it moving. Any more?
Is two units out still the daily maximum? I really must sample them myself.

Not seen any more of them and this was my first ride on a 331.

I also saw an unidentified 331 passing over the bridge on the A574 at Glazebury whilst driving yesterday. It was going eastwards.

86247 · 28 Sep 2019

seeing that their only 2 331s working have these got set diagrams on week days or just turn up out of the blue as I'm out on Tuesday or Wednesday and would like to try one

507021 · 29 Sep 2019

331005 failed at Lime Street this morning, was replaced by 150137.

Xenophon PCDGS · 29 Sep 2019

507021 said:
331005 failed at Lime Street this morning, was replaced by 150137.

What was the reason?

507021 · 29 Sep 2019

Xenophon PCDGS said:
What was the reason?

I don't know I'm afraid, we waited on the platform for a while before being told by the driver the service was cancelled.

Bovverboy · 29 Sep 2019

507021 said:
I don't know I'm afraid, we waited on the platform for a while before being told by the driver the service was cancelled.

But if the service was cancelled, in what sense was 331005 replaced by 150137?

507021 · 29 Sep 2019

Bovverboy said:
But if the service was cancelled, in what sense was 331005 replaced by 150137?

I didn't say the service was cancelled, it was the driver who said it was cancelled when he was asked what was going on.

However, the service did still run. It was supposed to be 331005 from Platform 6, but ended up being 150137 from Platform 1.

Bovverboy · 30 Sep 2019

507021 said:
However, the service did still run. It was supposed to be 331005 from Platform 6, but ended up being 150137 from Platform 1.

Do you know how 150137 came to be in P1? I can't find any trace of anything having been cancelled (or short-formed) in order to provide a unit.
I can't help but think that it would have been worthwhile waiting a few extra minutes and using the unit off the 0923 arrival ex-Blackpool (which should have been a 319) on the delayed 0906. The scheduled next working of the ex-Blackpool, 0930 Wilmslow, would have been better able to stand a 150 (on a Sunday), I'm sure. And if anyone should think I'm in any way anti-Chat Moss, I can tell you, it's my local line.

Starmill · 30 Sep 2019

Bovverboy said:
So what's the tally now for 331s in service on Blackpools? IIRC 331001/7/8 were early sightings, then 331005 was seen at Lime Street looking for all the world as though it was in service, but no-one subsequently reported seeing it moving. Any more?
Is two units out still the daily maximum? I really must sample them myself.

Is anyone able to offer a summary of the services running here from today? Have any Hazel Grove services begun?

D.K.TAYLOR · 30 Sep 2019

Starmill said:
Is anyone able to offer a summary of the services running here from today? Have any Hazel Grove services begun?

331007 14-37 to Blackpool North

jonesy3001 · 30 Sep 2019

how many of the 331/0s are now in the UK and what's left to come?

Northern Class 331: Construction/Introduction Updates

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