But they are with Northern because Northern needed stock, so your suggestion wouldn't be much good
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Class 180's to.....Northern?
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But they are with Northern because Northern needed stock, so your suggestion wouldn't be much good
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R
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I visited Blackpool last Saturday and noticed that there were two 180's stabled there all day. Are they not used on Saturdays?
Does seem a waste when there are other services running in the area that are very overcrowded. I am sure that EMT could use them on busy summer Saturdays for Liverpool-Norwich services.
Does seem a waste when there are other services running in the area that are very overcrowded. I am sure that EMT could use them on busy summer Saturdays for Liverpool-Norwich services.
No, not used at weekends.
It is not very efficient to train a pool of EMT drivers on traction which is not even cleared for the route you suggest just for two days a week.
Actually it IS efficient, that is why they are sitting around doing nothing
I totaly agree in principle though that it would be good if they were used, but using a business head you can see that its not practical
.Stonesourscotty
Member
The 180's are also cleared for Wigan-Blackpool any chance of a Summer Weekend working?
OMGitsDAVE
Member
Despite many of you saying Grand Central wouldn't get these - they're now in testing and I have seen one myself here in Hartlepool. They are expected to start services in August - creating the "4th path" from Sunderland to London weekdays & Saturdays.
I saw one at Darlington a few weeks ago!
OMGitsDAVE
Member
Well Done! It's very special to see such a unit here in Hartlepool, we're used to the 142's aha! Every time a GC goes past, or a 180 in FGW Livery, everybody just stares and smiles. Aha!
northern156
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Sorry for the bump, but I saw a Northern liveried 180 in Blackpool last month?!
MCR247
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Yeah, northern operate 180s to Blackpool. Nothing new
RobShipway
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I have read somewhere, I think it was in Rail magazine that potentially the Class 180 trains could end up with the Independent Comapnies such as Grand Central?
MCR247
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Grand Central already have 3 or 4
Drsatan
Established Member
Looked on Wikipedia and GC have 5 180s (referred to as Zephyrs) and 6 HST sets. I'm not sure how long the 180s will last for since the DfT isn't happy with their use on the ECML for some reason.
GC only have 3 HST sets (its 6 power cars they have)
ffcphone
Member
I understand the 180s can be seen stabled at Blackpool over the weekend.
However, yesterday (Saturday) I caught a mid-evening Northern service from Manchester Oxford Road to Southport. Somewhere between Salford Crescent and Bolton I'm reasonably certain a train passed us going towards Manchester and I counted 5 engine noise peaks as we passed. If my ears and counting abilities haven't failed this could only have been a 180?
On a secondary comment the 180 I tend to see every morning whilst i wait for my train seems to have engine reliability issues finally resolved. All 5 in use.
However, yesterday (Saturday) I caught a mid-evening Northern service from Manchester Oxford Road to Southport. Somewhere between Salford Crescent and Bolton I'm reasonably certain a train passed us going towards Manchester and I counted 5 engine noise peaks as we passed. If my ears and counting abilities haven't failed this could only have been a 180?
On a secondary comment the 180 I tend to see every morning whilst i wait for my train seems to have engine reliability issues finally resolved. All 5 in use.
Lampshade
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Hmm, I believe the DfT isn't happy with East Coast using them which is why there are rumours flying round of a swap for GC's HSTs for the EC 180s. I don't think it's anything to do with them not being happy with their use on the whole ECML.
driver9000
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Yes they are stabled at Blackpool North LMD over the weekend.
I doubt you heard a 180 running in a special path on Saturday, there is a booked return ECS path from Newton Heath-Blackpool North on a Sunday afternoon to swap the set coming off maintenace for the one booked to go onto maintenance that week. Although it rarely runs.
They have been running with 5 engines for the last month or so, spares are getting easier to obtain now and there is a float at NH the only one that tends to run with 4 engines now is 180106 which has a recurring fault on one of the driving cars.
ffcphone
Member
I concede my functions may have been playing up!
Good news Northern have got 2 of the 180s in full mechanical order.
Good news Northern have got 2 of the 180s in full mechanical order.
Stonesourscotty
Member
What you heard was a Virgin Voyager as i saw them myself Operating Between Salford and Bolton.
Think you've mis-read- they've got six HST power cars, making for three sets.
As for EC obtaining GC's HSTs, surely there's an issue there with the GC HSTs being owned by GC's sister company, not by one of the big ROSCOs?
I would guess though that were such a deal to go through, the GC sets would be "Mallardised" to the same configuration as the existing EC HST fleet? Would require some more carriages, but I'd assume they would want to try and avoid a sub-fleet if at all possible? Having a uniform fleet (of 180s) would certainly offer operational benifits to GC.
Why do you state that as fact?
As I have already said, it could well have been a double 185.
OMGitsDAVE
Member
He "Saw it for himself"
Crossforth
Established Member
ffcphone said:
Do the Northern 180s not run on a weekend?
But he didn't necessarily 'see' what the person who asked the question saw.
OMGitsDAVE
Member
No, but judging by the way the answer is wrote, it seems he knows what he is talking about on this matter. It could have been a 185, I did not say it couldn't have been, just merely pointing out the post.
driver9000
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No, there are two daily Mon-Fri diagrams. I think its to do with GMPTE funding for the strengthened services
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