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  1. J

    Government considering splitting Northern into North West and North East franchises from March 31

    It might be more hassle than it's worth. The work would be relatively easy to split, Leeds to Chester could sit with Manchester Victoria who sign the whole route but Leeds traincrew dont sign the Chester bit as far as I am aware and Leeds Blackpool could sit with Leeds who sign the whole route...
  2. J

    Northern Class 331: Construction/Introduction Updates

    Hazel Grove sidings can take a 6 car 331. It has been measured. And most if not all Blackpool to Hazel Grove services will be 6 car 331s from Monday.
  3. J

    Why are Northern allowed to cancel Sunday Services seemingly at will?

    When DRI (driver restructuring initiative) happened in around 1996 ish. The companies at the time which I think were regional railways northwest and regional railways north east, though it may have been FNW and northern spirit cant quite remember the eastern side started off on I think £22,000...
  4. J

    Altrincham - Chester line speed improvements

    The 20 mph is a TSR. Between Ashley an Hale which has been on for ages.
  5. J

    Northern: North West Sunday Crew Shortages

    Cant go back to the steam days but, in BR days when drivers got about £12000 a year but got a few add on's like irregular and unsocial hours payment and variable rostering payment and other stuff, sundays were time plus three quarters and there was never an issue with drivers coming for sundays...
  6. J

    Northern timetable changes May 2019

    It was initially was liverpool to man airport but Barrow to man airport is going to be the first 195 service
  7. J

    Northern: North West Sunday Crew Shortages

    It's late because the Sunday roster is produced Wednesday evening and it's only by Thursday that they see how bad it is and after no doubt a few conference calls they decide on the planned cancellations. To get Sunday in the working 4 day week they would have to employ more drivers and obviously...
  8. J

    Northern: North West Sunday Crew Shortages

    Its not one single issue. Drivers are paid about £36 an hour to work a rest day and to work a Sunday is time plus 2 hrs. So they would rather work a rest day during the week than work at the weekend, don't blame them for that. They earn a basic of about £47000, which is decent money and some of...
  9. J

    Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

    Lots of rumours about 323s but nothing concrete about whether they are staying or going. They are a superior unit to the 319 but it might depend whether northern want to train another load of drivers on 323s as only Piccadilly and lime street sign them at the moment. Leasing costs as well.
  10. J

    Northern Class 195: Construction/Introduction Updates

    I would take a punt on mid to late Feb before you see one of these in service. Driver training programme not even agreed with ASLEF yet which is going to be an 8/9 day course. Units still have teething problems with driver door, windscreen wipers and AWS volume amongst other things . There will...
  11. J

    Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

    The depots that operate on the bolton line are: Blackpool, Wigan, Victoria, Picadilly and Buxton. All depots are trained 319s but only piccadilly do 323s and operate on this route. All trains up to the May timetable are DMUs. There was no way they would take a chance on Network Rail having the...
  12. J

    Why do Pacers get allocated to the Hope Valley Stoppers?

    142 has a 225 hp engine an 150/156 has 285 hp engine
  13. J

    Is Manchester United FC Halt closed?

    From what I can gather it was united that stopped the trains from running due to crowd management issues. When fans were waiting for the trains the walk way beneath the stand was getting blocked causing issues
  14. J

    Class 195/331 delivery dates

    I imagine each subclass so 4 car 331, 3 car 331, 3 car 195 and 2 car 195. The first 3 of each will have to do 1500. If there is a fault at 1300 miles it resets the clock and they have to try again.
  15. J

    Class 195/331 delivery dates

    From what I've heard the first 3 of each class have to do 1500 incident free miles and the rest of the fleet 500 miles. They will be tested up the WCML between Carlisle and Crewe. Things like door tests can be performed on depot. With the technology these new trains have they can be programmed...
  16. J

    Northern Class 323 Diagrams

    Not from Piccadilly they haven't. I beleive its a certain platform that needs something doing to it, cant recall which station. I've heard they hope to have RA in about 3 weeks time. It's a 319 on the diagram from Macclesfield because it ends up on the Crewe Liverpool circuit. At present all...
  17. J

    Northern Class 323 Diagrams

    Viaduct siding is wired at the South end of stoke. The up goods and through siding are also wired at the north end of stoke if shunts are required. The issue at the moment is the xcountry service is only a couple of mins behind the stopper by the time the stopper arrives in the bay. 319s even...
  18. J

    Northern Class 323 Diagrams

    They are still awaiting route clearance to go via chat moss. Don't know if this is Network Rail or Northerns fault, after all they have known for at least 8 months that these units would be going this way.
  19. J

    Class 195/331 delivery dates

    In September I believe, up and down the WCML to get 1500 trouble free miles for the first 3 of each type and then 500 miles each for the rest of the fleet.. I imagine most of this will be done at night.
  20. J

    Northern Temporary Timetable from 4th June

    It is implemented when the track temperature gets to a certain level, so if the current weather continues through August, so will the restriction. It probably could be fixed, but would cost Networks Rail tens of thousands of pounds with materials, possessions and bus replacement during the...

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