• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Class 144 Pacer routes 2020

Status
Not open for further replies.

TrainTube

Member
Joined
24 Sep 2018
Messages
487
I was wondering what routes the 144s would operate during 2020 when more 142s are being scrapped. Rail Magazine state that they will operate in South Yorkshire, but are there any routes where they are almost certain to operate? I know the Huddersfield to Sheffield has cropped up a bit, but are there others?
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

yorksrob

Veteran Member
Joined
6 Aug 2009
Messages
38,818
Location
Yorks
I wouldn't be surprised if they remained on the Hallam line. The 3 carriage versions a regulars already.
 

darloscott

Member
Joined
12 Dec 2013
Messages
772
Location
Stockton
Given they'll presumably be maintained at Neville Hill (& Heaton) then I think routes out of Sheffield to Huddersfield, Adwick/Donny/Gainsborough stoppers, Leeds stoppers (both ways) and York are almost nailed on. That should utilise the whole fleet.
The positioning move to Heaton for example works off Sheffield-York. The return working goes onto York-Selby-Scunny which tells us Donny-Scunny stoppers will likely be 144 operated also.
 

Fisherman80

Member
Joined
29 Apr 2018
Messages
214
Think they will still appear on the Leeds to Morecambe line. I was on the 1224 Leeds to Morecambe worked by 144019. But my 2007 return journey back was worked by a very spacious 158755!
 

Mitchell Hurd

On Moderation
Joined
28 Oct 2017
Messages
1,648
Think they will still appear on the Leeds to Morecambe line. I was on the 1224 Leeds to Morecambe worked by 144019. But my 2007 return journey back was worked by a very spacious 158755!

When I was at Leeds, I noticed this service worked by a 5-car 144!

I can see why the 144's will be the last to go - the interiors are better and I know these are more spacious than a 3+2 seated 142 (I've been on a GWR 143 and 3 TfW 143's).
 

Fisherman80

Member
Joined
29 Apr 2018
Messages
214
When I was at Leeds, I noticed this service worked by a 5-car 144!

I can see why the 144's will be the last to go - the interiors are better and I know these are more spacious than a 3+2 seated 142 (I've been on a GWR 143 and 3 TfW 143's).
I travel quite frequently between Bingley and Morecambe,and can honestly say I have no problems with the 144s whatsoever,even if the journey is nearly 2 hours.
Now when an ex Merseyrail/First North Western type 142 has turned up,doing the same journey,I could cry!
Although I have more of a soft spot for the 144s,I am trying to come from a passengers point of view.
How hard would it be to make them PRM compliant?
 

Mitchell Hurd

On Moderation
Joined
28 Oct 2017
Messages
1,648
Most passengers might not like them, however I'm sure on both football and rugby (+ special events) days that they'd want them then.

If it was me, I'd give them a full refurbishment, make them fully PRM-compliant like 144012 (I've not been on this Pacer unfortunately) and use them to couple up to 15x stock on the days mentioned in the above paragraph.
 

Broken70

Member
Joined
23 Aug 2018
Messages
58
Location
South Yorkshire
The Sheffield-Huddersfield Penistone Line services are currently been operated with a large number of 158's sometimes all 3 daily diagrams. Odd considering Northern have confirmed the route will be operated by 150/153 combos once the Pacers are fully removed from service. The 144s will most likely work the 2L/2N Sheffield-Leeds services and the Sheffield-Doncaster/York stoppers.
 
Last edited:

156420

Member
Joined
17 Aug 2019
Messages
132
Location
North West
They will still be on there normal services like they are now but will just rotate to end up at Heaton for exams and heavy maintenance.

The exam runs will be on a Leeds to York (via Cross Gates) Service which then goes empty to Heaton.

And an empty run Heaton-York (5T83) to return good units.
 

clagmonster

Established Member
Joined
8 Jun 2005
Messages
2,442
Tracing back from the Heaton ecs, the following seems to be a 144.
2Y76 15:40 Sheffield - York
2T26 17:07 York - Leeds
2T27 18:18 Leeds - York
5A60 19+21 York - Heaton
Prior to that is unclear, I suspect the unit for 2Y76 comes off Shrewsbury Road sidings.

The fresh unit off Heaton would appear to work:
2R89 05:40 York - Selby
2P01 06:15 Selby - Scunthorpe
2P02 07:48 Scunthorpe - Doncaster
2P05 08:44 Doncaster - Scunthorpe
2P06 09:48 Scunthorpe - Doncaster
2P09 10:42 Doncaster - Scunthorpe
2P10 11:48 Scunthorpe - Doncaster
2P13 12:42 Doncaster - Scunthorpe
2P14 13:48 Scunthorpe - Doncaster
2P17 14:42 Doncaster - Scunthorpe
2P18 15:48 Scunthorpe - Doncaster
2P23 16:42 Doncaster - Scunthorpe
2P22 17:48 Scunthorpe - Doncaster
2P27 18:42 Doncaster - Scunthorpe
2P26 19:48 Scunthorpe - Doncaster
2P31 20:42 Doncaster - Scunthorpe
2P30 21:48 Scunthorpe - Doncaster joins
2R68 22:23 Adwick - Sheffield
2R27 23:27 Sheffield - Doncaster

I understand the others are all around South Yorkshire. I would expect Gainsborough Central, Scunny, Adwick, Goole/Hull stoppers, Huddersfield, Leeds via both Cas Vegas and Bolton on Dearne.

I understand that Sheffield - Huddersfield is currently 158 due to autumnal adhesion issues with using pacers that way.
 

Fisherman80

Member
Joined
29 Apr 2018
Messages
214
Most passengers might not like them, however I'm sure on both football and rugby (+ special events) days that they'd want them then.

If it was me, I'd give them a full refurbishment, make them fully PRM-compliant like 144012 (I've not been on this Pacer unfortunately) and use them to couple up to 15x stock on the days mentioned in the above paragraph.
I wouldn't even go that far. I'm sure a PRM toilet could be fitted,give them a deep clean and that's about it!
But back onto diagrams,I suppose they will turn up anywhere on the network.......like having a 3 car 158 on the 2007 Morecambe to Leeds last night!
 

ianhr

Member
Joined
17 Sep 2013
Messages
534
When I was at Leeds, I noticed this service worked by a 5-car 144!

I can see why the 144's will be the last to go - the interiors are better and I know these are more spacious than a 3+2 seated 142 (I've been on a GWR 143 and 3 TfW 143's).
They are only spacious if you don't have any legs! Although the fully refurbished demonstrator PRM compliant unit is fine.
 

DarloRich

Veteran Member
Joined
12 Oct 2010
Messages
29,182
Location
Fenny Stratford
Are they going to Heaton for maintenance purely because Neville Hill is full or are they moving up to the the north east?
 

xotGD

Established Member
Joined
4 Feb 2017
Messages
6,063
Are they going to Heaton for maintenance purely because Neville Hill is full or are they moving up to the the north east?
I understand it is the former rather than the latter.
 

Seehof

Member
Joined
1 Sep 2019
Messages
402
Location
Yorkshire
They have been empty movements from York to Heaton and back in the evening/night for years. I have long since retired from being a driver but I once brought 142095 down from Heaton to York one night only for it go back again the next evening as someone had put a brick through a window!
 

Fisherman80

Member
Joined
29 Apr 2018
Messages
214
I was really hoping for a 144 tonight on the 1726 Leeds to Morecambe. I'm currently sat on the said service and it's a 153/158 combo.
 

yorksrob

Veteran Member
Joined
6 Aug 2009
Messages
38,818
Location
Yorks
I was really hoping for a 144 tonight on the 1726 Leeds to Morecambe. I'm currently sat on the said service and it's a 153/158 combo.

There are many times I've fantasised about a 153/158 combo when on that line :lol:

Had many good 144 trips on the route though.
 

Fisherman80

Member
Joined
29 Apr 2018
Messages
214
There are many times I've fantasised about a 153/158 combo when on that line :lol:

Had many good 144 trips on the route though.
I will get the unit numbers when I get to Morecambe. I caught the train from Bingley and when the tannoy said this train has 3 carriages it was nailed on to be a 3 car 144..............I thought!
 

yorksrob

Veteran Member
Joined
6 Aug 2009
Messages
38,818
Location
Yorks
I will get the unit numbers when I get to Morecambe. I caught the train from Bingley and when the tannoy said this train has 3 carriages it was nailed on to be a 3 car 144..............I thought!

Yes, the three carriage 144 is classic traction on the route for me

My only qualms with them were a lack of tables (as with many other units) on the journey.
 

Fisherman80

Member
Joined
29 Apr 2018
Messages
214
Yes, the three carriage 144 is classic traction on the route for me

My only qualms with them were a lack of tables (as with many other units) on the journey.
I find the 144s are adequate for a 2 hour journey. I will really really miss them. I'm 39 and started buying Metro Dayrovers when I was about 12,and my favourite out of the Pacer group was the 144s.
I've had many a good trip on them........even to Carlisle in the 90s!
 

yorksrob

Veteran Member
Joined
6 Aug 2009
Messages
38,818
Location
Yorks
I find the 144s are adequate for a 2 hour journey. I will really really miss them. I'm 39 and started buying Metro Dayrovers when I was about 12,and my favourite out of the Pacer group was the 144s.
I've had many a good trip on them........even to Carlisle in the 90s!

Yes, I've commuted on 144's for a decade or so and will miss them (particularly if 150's are the replacement).
 

Fisherman80

Member
Joined
29 Apr 2018
Messages
214
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.
 
Joined
23 Apr 2012
Messages
343
Location
Greater manchester.
I used to get a 144 from Huddersfield to Marsden back in the day. There was an hour gap of the Huddersfield stopper, So I found the trains a refreshing change from the 142 I usually got.
 

Adam0984

Member
Joined
18 Feb 2014
Messages
1,072
From sunday all the weekday Morecambe trains are booked 158s with some 150s on a weekend with the 158s
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top