Central Trains hired in DMUs 1999.

[northernrailer]

Just been looking through flickr and came across two pictures of Scotrail class 150/2 units that were loaned to Central Trains in 1999. I know that around 1999 or 2000 Wales and West loaned 150242 to Central Trains as i saw it as Skegness, but i never knew that Scotrail has loaned 150208 & 150256 to Central Trains.

See pictures below that i found:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79825682@N02/7338054840/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79825682@N02/7328583762/in/photostream/

Why did Central Trains need to hire in extra 150s in 1999 - i thought Central were pretty stable for units - its weird how 150208 & 150256 got Central Destination Blinds fitted but 150242 never did.

In late 2000 Central Trains must have run out of Destination Blinds as there were quite a few class 153 and 156 without Destination Blinds fitted at all, then come 2002 when Central no longer operated to Wales (Aberystwyth, Chester & Pwllheli) new blinds were printed.

So now to my knowledge Central Trains hired in:

150208 - from Scotrail
150242 - from Wales & West
150256 - from Scotrail

were there any other class 150, 153, 156 or 158 units they hired in around this time.

Central Trains were very good at loaning other TOCs some units as there were several class 158s operating in Devon and Cornwall between 2002 - 2005.

 

[David10]

In 2000 CT transferred eight 150s to Silverlink once the first 170s entered service, perhaps their were some reliability issues that left CT short?

Recall that around 2002-03 there was a weekend Wales & Borders or Wessex Trains service to Penzance diagramed to be operated by a hired in CT 158.

 

[Failed Unit]

The 170s were dogs when introduced with a lot of engine problems, which could explain things.

 

[rail-britain]

Also possible that, as National Express operated both franchises at the time, a swap of two Class 150/2 for the two Class 170 prototype units, which were used for a short while on ScotRail around that time