ashkeba
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Who is dropping hats into toilets? Of course it will break them!
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The Menace Of Class 150 Rail Travel
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krus_aragon
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Especially if the rabbits then fall out...
Jozhua
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https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/the-terror-of-class-153-rail-travel.192020/
Thought I'd make a 153 thread to complete the terrible trilogy.
Thought I'd make a 153 thread to complete the terrible trilogy.
krus_aragon
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Will it be half the size of the others?
Jozhua
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My morning commute is on Northern and 9 times out of 10 it's a 2 car 156, which provides just enough seats for everyone. I always get a seat and, like this morning, the one next to me was vacant throughout the short 15 minute journey.
It's well over a month ago that a Pacer turned up, which obviously resulted in standing room only.
But now, when a 150 turns up there is a collective sigh from everyone on the platform because some people know they will end up standing. Okay, it's only for 15 minutes, but it's a depressing start to the day!
The 3+2 seating is pathetic, especially as hardly anyone tries to squeeze into the middle of the 3 seats, unless they have a fetish with rubbing their shoulders, elbows and knees up against other people!
And some of the 2 seat airline configurations are ridiculous. I squeezed myself into one such device last week, but had to sit sideways on due to the lack of legroom.
But the refurbished TfW 150's used on the Liverpool to Chester service are a delight, especially when they get up to speed between Liverpool South Parkway and Runcorn. If a Northern 150 tried to go that fast it would probably explode!
It's well over a month ago that a Pacer turned up, which obviously resulted in standing room only.
But now, when a 150 turns up there is a collective sigh from everyone on the platform because some people know they will end up standing. Okay, it's only for 15 minutes, but it's a depressing start to the day!
The 3+2 seating is pathetic, especially as hardly anyone tries to squeeze into the middle of the 3 seats, unless they have a fetish with rubbing their shoulders, elbows and knees up against other people!
And some of the 2 seat airline configurations are ridiculous. I squeezed myself into one such device last week, but had to sit sideways on due to the lack of legroom.
But the refurbished TfW 150's used on the Liverpool to Chester service are a delight, especially when they get up to speed between Liverpool South Parkway and Runcorn. If a Northern 150 tried to go that fast it would probably explode!
86247
Member
I had one chester Liverpool South parkway and after the bridge it open up my god the was shifting fastest run I've had with a 150/2
I regularly use a couple of diagrams which were previously 3-carriage 144, but which have now been replaced by 2-carriage 150.
It's become increasingly clear that the 150's simply aren't up to the job, either in terms of comfort or capacity. Northern need a better plan than simply replacing 3-144 with 2-150.
It's become increasingly clear that the 150's simply aren't up to the job, either in terms of comfort or capacity. Northern need a better plan than simply replacing 3-144 with 2-150.
I’m sure questions will be asked, but I doubt they will be answered.
You are probably looking at 5 Years into the next franchise, which is why this thread started in the first place, as there is the really real prospect of the 150s dominating Northern’s secondary lines for the next decade.
The 10:18 Leeds-Morecambe which has been struggling with crowded 150's on Saturdays this year, was actually a 158 yesterday. It was bliss.
Hopefully this will be a permanent fixture !
Class455
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I quite like the Class 150's, however I feel like they've been a bit let down in regards to investment. The similar Class 455's and 456's for example have been heavily refurbished several years ago and are in a very good condition, with high back seating, modern looking interiors and more space for commuters to stand.
On the other hand though, I've been on a few unrefurbished Northern Class 150's, particularly the 150/1's and they're in a very poor condition, and they really do look their age! Even the ones which have just been refurbished still look rather old onboard. If a little more investment was put into these units, then perhaps they would be more bearable to travel. Unfortunately thanks to the way that Northern have treated them over the years, once the Pacers go these will become the North's most disliked train. I've yet to properly travel on a 150/2 (I've only had one between Oxford Road and Manchester Piccadilly last year) but I assume those are slightly better.
On the other hand though, I've been on a few unrefurbished Northern Class 150's, particularly the 150/1's and they're in a very poor condition, and they really do look their age! Even the ones which have just been refurbished still look rather old onboard. If a little more investment was put into these units, then perhaps they would be more bearable to travel. Unfortunately thanks to the way that Northern have treated them over the years, once the Pacers go these will become the North's most disliked train. I've yet to properly travel on a 150/2 (I've only had one between Oxford Road and Manchester Piccadilly last year) but I assume those are slightly better.
Given that there are a lot of EMU's from the same era going spare, I wonder whether a lowish cost solution to our capacity problems might be to stick a diesel engine on a load of trailer carriages and insert them into all remaining 3 carriage 150's. This could be an alternative to using 153's if they're more useful elsewhere.
Randomer
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Did Cardiff to Manchester yesterday the TfW 175 in the morning was pleasant; uncrowded on a 3 car set, with a quiet interior, decent seats and okay legroom. The TfW 150 back in the afternoon was tortuously loud, overcrowded but at least had 2 + 2 seating unlike some of the Northern examples I have travelled on recently.
krus_aragon
Established Member
That's the greatest objection I have to the use of 150s on long-distance (semi-fast) services: the fact that they're so loud. On a stopping service you get a regular break from the racket, but with 15+ minutes between stops it can get quite tiresome.
I'm sure they'll have been a fair bit quieter when they were fresh off the production line.
ohgoditsjames
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Is there any chance that 150’s will be replaced with 195’s?
krus_aragon
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In Northern-land? That'll probably be a decision for the next franchise, post-2025.
(For comparison, TfW intend to replace all their 150s with Civitys by 2024, and that rolling stock order went in over a year ago. Even if the current Northern franchisee were to put an order in, it probably wouldn't be delivered until after the end of their franchise.)
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