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West Midlands Trains Class 153 Withdrawal

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NewSt

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With the impending deadline, the non-PRM compliant Class 153s will have to leave the West Midlands soon. Does anyone have any more information on this?
 
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Darandio

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With the impending deadline, the non-PRM compliant Class 153s will have to leave the West Midlands soon. Does anyone have any more information on this?

Lots of stock is expected to leave lots of places before 1st January. Not specifically West Midlands, but i'm expecting multiple announcements between now and then to say much of this stock isn't going anywhere just yet.
 

NewSt

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Lots of stock is expected to leave lots of places before 1st January. Not specifically West Midlands, but i'm expecting multiple announcements between now and then to say much of this stock isn't going anywhere just yet.

Unless they manage to get the 196s in service in December, which seems highly unlikely, I doubt they'll be gone on time. WMR would end up with a massive capacity gap.
 

NewSt

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Were they not meant to go back in May with the Class 150’s.

Quite possible. I believe the 172/0s were meant to replace them but they’ve mainly just been used for capacity upgrade on the Snow Hill lines. They did at least displace the 153s on NUCKLE.
 

Southern Dvr

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153s can continue to run after December long as they are in multiple with a unit that has the PRM modifications.
 

Rhydgaled

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153s can continue to run after December long as they are in multiple with a unit that has the PRM modifications.
That makes me wonder, are the unit end gangways on the class 172/2 and 172/3 units compatible with those on 158s and lesser Sprinters? For example, if a 153 is coupled to a 172/3 would a passenger boarding the 153 be able to walk through all four carriages without alighting?

Were West Midlands Trains ever planning to get rid of their 153s this year or did the franchise always have plans to keep them into 2020 coupled to compliant units?
 

TH172341

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That makes me wonder, are the unit end gangways on the class 172/2 and 172/3 units compatible with those on 158s and lesser Sprinters? For example, if a 153 is coupled to a 172/3 would a passenger boarding the 153 be able to walk through all four carriages without alighting?

Were West Midlands Trains ever planning to get rid of their 153s this year or did the franchise always have plans to keep them into 2020 coupled to compliant units?

Unfortunately the 153 gangway is not compatible with the 172s' gangway. Believe there is a height and slight gapping issue. Don't think the 153 deals too well with the 172 acceleration either! The 172 can end up dragging the 153 essentially.

Not too sure on the original plan. I will assume they will be kept on until the 196s arrive and the 170s start to depart. Could not do without them at the moment on one of the Snow Hill diagrams which has two coupled up with a 170/5. Rather dingy inside now they are so bit of roll back in time compared to the other stock on the route.
 

NewSt

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153s can continue to run after December long as they are in multiple with a unit that has the PRM modifications.

That should be ok then. Apart from on NUCKLE, I’ve never seen them on their own apart from on the Chase Line, and they’ve got 350s now.
 

route101

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In August i got a x 2 153 set on a Hereford , we left New St with only the front 153 running , was pulling us , engine on the rear set was started at University.
 

centraltrains

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I thought the plan was that the 172/0s will replace them once they 172/0s have finished filling in for 172/2 and 172/3 refurbishments.
 

Bevan Price

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In August i got a x 2 153 set on a Hereford , we left New St with only the front 153 running , was pulling us , engine on the rear set was started at University.

I encountered a 3 x 153 set a few weeks ago on a Hereford - New Street service; a bit painful climbing Lickey, but otherwise performed OK.
 
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