I wonder if this is going to be the norm on the Bentham line. If Northern are getting rid of the 153s too, the only other 3 car option I can think of is a 3 car 158 (which by the way I was on the 2007 Morecambe to Leeds,158755 on Saturday the 7th).
To me there is still a place for the 3 car 144s if they were given PRM treatment.
I can live with 3 car 158's on the route !