Technically yes, but it's not quite as big of a capacity reduction as you might think. You see, 319 carriages are 20m long or 80m total, but 323 carriages are 23m long or 69m total.
No, currently three of the remaining 319s are covering for the three 323s that are away at Wolverton for PRM mods. So the true comparison is that the 17 ex-WMT 323s will replace no more than twelve 319s - and the elimination of the 319 fleet will reduce the total number of spare units needed.
It makes hardly any difference in terms of both seated and crush loaded capacity. There are few 23m vehicles fitted with 3+2 seating, and bizarrely the ones in the 323's are actually quite spacious.
One of the big differences however is the reduction in the number of doors and subsequently standing room. Realistically, in this day and age we shouldn’t be talking about a three car train (or even a two car train when there’s a shortage) rolling up on any of the electric services out of Lime Street.
Surely a simpler solution rather than platform extensions will simply be a reshuffle of rolling stock?
Assuming a daily turnout of 28x331/0s from the fleet of 31, all operating in 6-car formations, that is 14 diagrams. Assuming a daily turnout of 31x323s from the fleet of 34, all operating singly, that is 31 more diagrams. So a total of 14+31=45 diagrams. But Northern surely does not need as many as 45 EMU diagrams to work the electrified routes out of Manchester and Liverpool. Therefore the intention must be to operate some of the 323s in multiple, as well as the 331/0s. That will require SDO fitment to at least some of the 323s.
6-car 331s can only be operated out of Leeds once the platform 0 works are complete which will free up the required platform space.
Not sure... I wonder if they might put some 333s on there?
That was the plan. Some 6-cars on the Skipton line, replacing the 321/322 fleet and 333s then working the Doncaster stoppers.
It seems to me that the east/west swap of 331/0s and 331/1s is likely to increase the number of 331 diagrams in the west, since the 4-car units will not operate in multiple. Consequently more of the 323s will need to operate in 6-car formations, if the fleet is to be fully utilised.
Six cars on Lime Street to Warrington BQ, or to Crewe via Manchester will not fit in most of the platforms at intermediate stations. If they cleared weeds from the disused platform ends at Edge Hill, Eccles & Patricroft, they could take 6 coaches; St. Helens Junction might just manage 6 coaches, as might Earlestown for eastbound services. I doubt that most of Broad Green, Roby, Huyton, Whiston, Rainhill, Lea Green or Newton Le Willows can manage much more than 4 coaches. TP passengers travelling from Lime St. to either Lea Green or Newton Le Willows are always told to use the front 3 coaches of their new 5 coach stock.
Bear in mind that the 331s have ASDO so don't need to fit completely on the platform. The fleet swap is more to do with capacity - Liverpool/Wigan/Blackpool route doesn't need 6 car capacity unlike the Leeds NW services, but the infrastructure at Leeds precludes 6 car 331 operation at the moment.
That does look bad. If it's that crowded then one would expect that a 4-car 319 wouldn't be much better.
Pre-Covid overcrowding is now ancient history. The 323s might end up as razorblades before we see scenes like that again!
Won't happen. They're not within walking distance and TfGM would never allow that.
You're about as likely to get working air con on a Northern 158 as you are to win the lottery whilst simultaneously being struck by lightning, being bitten by a shark and becoming president of the Illuminati. So you can enjoy being squashed with lower cooling provision than any other train.
You're about as likely to get working air con on a Northern 158 as you are to win the lottery whilst simultaneously being struck by lightning, being bitten by a shark and becoming president of the Illuminati. So you can enjoy being squashed with lower cooling provision than any other train.
