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EMR Class 170 updates

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Starmill

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The posters that have been displayed on many stations on EMR local lines say the following:

‘Modern trains, better journeys. We’re rolling out new trains on your route’.

Yes, newer and more modern trains than the 156s that have been running on the routes for the last 15 years, but not new trains, or even new to the routes. They are trains returning to the routes that were used back in Central Trains days. However, I totally agree with @LowLevel that once refurbished they will be a fantastic improvement.
We've discussed those posters quite a few times, and every time it has been pointed out that they're an attempt to suggest that the trains are newer than in fact they are. Of course that doesn't mean that with their eventual refurbishment they won't be a consistent improvement.

If you have multiple different inconsistent interiors on the same route, but all of which look and feel "modern" then nobody is actually going to notice that other than staff and enthusiasts.
 
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Snow1964

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They feel very tired, I agree. Repair the seat cushions, do all the upholstery and so on and they'll be like new.

There's nothing fundamentally wrong with them that wouldn't be fixed with a decent overhaul.
From a maintenance point of view, would it be better to replace the seats with the latest design as being fitted to 810 bimodes.

There is also a branding and consistent presentation factor. No one will grow the business by offering a journey on a nice new comfortable train, if customers next journey or connection is an a tatty bit of junk.
 

LowLevel

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From a maintenance point of view, would it be better to replace the seats with the latest design as being fitted to 810 bimodes.

There is also a branding and consistent presentation factor. No one will grow the business by offering a journey on a nice new comfortable train, if customers next journey or connection is an a tatty bit of junk.
But a fully refurbished 170 with it's existing seats rebuilt isn't a tatty piece of junk. Yes, the new seats would be ideal but if you need to save money knocking a few thousand seats off the order will help significantly.

What they need most is power sockets and reliable WiFi based upon my own experience of customer needs and complaints about them, along with another luggage stack.

Spending some money giving the underfloor kit some love would be high on the list too.

That accusation could however be levelled at the 360s, I suppose, if they don't get a total rebuild.

The regional business doesn't particularly need growing in any case, providing enough capacity is a real problem. The Intercity services are also consistently busy. Your main capacity to try and flog is on the Connect.
 

Clansman

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along with another luggage stack.
That's part of the issue with not replacing the seats I imagine, is that presumably the newer seating would have allowed an increase in density which would have allowed another row of seats or a luggage rack with existing legroom.

Practically impossible with the original configuration on those sets without reducing capacity unless you reconfigure the declassified first class at each end to compensate with a standard 2+2 layout.
 

TheBigD

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Big mix of seating layouts on EMR's 170s.

Currently 3 different interior layouts...
170273
170/4
170/5 + /6

Future fleet will see 170201-8 with yet another interior layout.
170270-2 that have that same as 170273, along side the ex 171s which I think are the same as the 170/4s.

And there's at least 4 different seat types, the stanfard ones on the /5 & /6 (lazzerini ?), the ones on the /2 & /4 (Chapman ?) along the ex first class seats, which are different ones on on 170201-8, but similar on 170270-273 and the 170/4s and ex 171s.

A right hodge podge of layouts and seat designs.

I'd hope that the would be some standardisation of the interiors, along with additional luggage provision.
The /5 and /6 have a silly 26cm wide luggage stack in one of the saloons which is too narrow for most cases.

Feel free to correct me as I'm not 100% sure on the 170/4 and ex 171 layouts.
 
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43102EMR

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Big mix of seating layouts on EMR's 170s.

Currently 3 different interior layouts...
170273
170/4
170/5 + /6

Future fleet will see 170201-8 with yet another interior layout.
170270-2 that have that same as 170273, along side the ex 171s which I think are the same as the 170/4s.

And there's at least 4 different seat types, the stanfard ones on the /5 & /6 (lazzerini ?), the ones on the /2 & /4 (Chapman ?) along the ex first class seats, which are different ones on on 170201-8, but similar on 170270-273 and the 170/4s and ex 171s.

A right hodge podge of layouts and seat designs.

I'd hope that the would be some standardisation of the interiors, along with additional luggage provision.
The /5 and /6 have a silly 26cm wide luggage stack in one of the saloons which is too narrow for most cases.

Feel free to correct me as I'm not 100% sure.
The 4 ex-170/4s from Southern will also be added to the mix - then again, they more or less have the same layout as the existing /4s, just with a different interior colour scheme.
 

fgwrich

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The 4 ex-170/4s from Southern will also be added to the mix - then again, they more or less have the same layout as the existing /4s, just with a different interior colour scheme.
To be fair, if they wish to standardise them with the ex ScotRail units, all they have to do is take the Southern covers off - NX ScR is still underneath :lol:
 

Doomotron

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To be fair, if they wish to standardise them with the ex ScotRail units, all they have to do is take the Southern covers off - NX ScR is still underneath :lol:
<pedant> Although the handrails are painted in Southern colours and they've been recarpeted as well, so not fully standardised </pedant>

That said, I'm pretty sure the Southern covers would be in better condition the the ScotRail ones anyway? It's also going to be interesting to see the reliability difference now they're being de-converted. Did they have a TMS* added like the as-built 171s?

*Not sure if it's a true TMS but I'm pretty sure the 171s are more 'computerised' than the 170s as they don't need to be compatible with Sprinters.
 

43102EMR

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To be fair, if they wish to standardise them with the ex ScotRail units, all they have to do is take the Southern covers off - NX ScR is still underneath :lol:
I mean, in the case of 401 and 402, there would be first class at both ends whereas 201 and 202 only have it at one end.
 

LowLevel

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<pedant> Although the handrails are painted in Southern colours and they've been recarpeted as well, so not fully standardised </pedant>

That said, I'm pretty sure the Southern covers would be in better condition the the ScotRail ones anyway? It's also going to be interesting to see the reliability difference now they're being de-converted. Did they have a TMS* added like the as-built 171s?

*Not sure if it's a true TMS but I'm pretty sure the 171s are more 'computerised' than the 170s as they don't need to be compatible with Sprinters.
The 171s were built as standard 170s and renumbered post build. As far as I know neither the original batch nor the ex Scottish conversions have a TMS.
 

ABB125

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The 171s were built as standard 170s and renumbered post build. As far as I know neither the original batch nor the ex Scottish conversions have a TMS.
I thought the (original) 4-car class 171s were built like that from new; the 2-car ones (and all Scotrail conversions) are renumbered.
 

43102EMR

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I thought the (original) 4-car class 171s were built like that from new; the 2-car ones (and all Scotrail conversions) are renumbered.
A couple of /7s were built as 171s, the remainder converted.
 

TheBigD

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Have you actually measured the luggage area? Because that strikes me as extremely specific :lol: o_O :D

Ha ha!

Not measured it myself but can remember laughing about how small it was during my crew training on them and the trainer informed me that it was 26cm. Apparently all due to a late change to the interior following feedback from the 170/1 sets on MML at the time. The luggage stack basically being sacrificed to give more legroom but not reduce the number of seats or number of luggage racks was the reason given.
 

Mugby

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I think it's safer to say 'If' they ever get refurbished. Yes, the exteriors look quite smart in EMR purple but the interiors are a mish-mash of all sorts.

It's a bit ironic to think that XC (0f all people, given that Arriva haven't touched the Voyager fleet since they took over) when they received the extra
centre cars for strengthening their 170s, have fitted them with their standard seating moquette and changed the interior decor to their own colours so that they fit seamlessly into the existing fleet!
 

387gwr

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Does anyone have an image of the Lazzerini seats in the 170/5 and the EX first class areas on the Northern sets?
 

fgwrich

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43102EMR

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If I recall correctly, the XC 170s also have the same seating arrangement regardless of subclass.
 

TheBigD

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If I recall correctly, the XC 170s also have the same seating arrangement regardless of subclass.
Not quite.
The centre cars from 170630-635 which were added to 170518-523 retained their existing seat layout which has 6 less seats than the existing XC 170 centre cars.
Also 170397 and 170398 have Chapman seats in them whilst the rest all have Lazzerini seats.
 

43102EMR

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Not quite.
The centre cars from 170630-635 which were added to 170518-523 retained their existing seat layout which has 6 less seats than the existing XC 170 centre cars.
Also 170397 and 170398 have Chapman seats in them whilst the rest all have Lazzerini seats.
Was more referring to the Lazzerini seats, but wasn’t aware about 397 and 398, thanks!
 

Starmill

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Ha ha!

Not measured it myself but can remember laughing about how small it was during my crew training on them and the trainer informed me that it was 26cm. Apparently all due to a late change to the interior following feedback from the 170/1 sets on MML at the time. The luggage stack basically being sacrificed to give more legroom but not reduce the number of seats or number of luggage racks was the reason given.
Curious! Thank you.
 

43055

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Big mix of seating layouts on EMR's 170s.

Currently 3 different interior layouts...
170273
170/4
170/5 + /6

Future fleet will see 170201-8 with yet another interior layout.
170270-2 that have that same as 170273, along side the ex 171s which I think are the same as the 170/4s.

And there's at least 4 different seat types, the stanfard ones on the /5 & /6 (lazzerini ?), the ones on the /2 & /4 (Chapman ?) along the ex first class seats, which are different ones on on 170201-8, but similar on 170270-273 and the 170/4s and ex 171s.

A right hodge podge of layouts and seat designs.

I'd hope that the would be some standardisation of the interiors, along with additional luggage provision.
The /5 and /6 have a silly 26cm wide luggage stack in one of the saloons which is too narrow for most cases.

Feel free to correct me as I'm not 100% sure on the 170/4 and ex 171 layouts.
Considering the 170 routes don't have reservations I don't see much of an issue with the different layouts. Also EMR have different layouts with the 156's (possibly between the /4 and /9's) and 158's (158889 being ex SWT) already.

Personally I won't mind the 'lighter' refurbishment. Don't see much point changing the seats when they are perfectly reasonable.

Was on 170273 recently and was surprised to see that it seemed to be refurbished at some point and had a first class section. Given GA used them on regional routes I didn't think the 170/2's would have first class and 156/9's were/still are in a bit of a state when EMR received them was sort of expecting these to be as well.
 

QSK19

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Personally I won't mind the 'lighter' refurbishment. Don't see much point changing the seats when they are perfectly reasonable.
I completely agree with you on that; however, given the fact that EMR is getting them (and indeed the 360s) at practically 20 years old, the least it and its passengers deserve is to have the them in an as-new condition with all the expected “mod cons” such as up to date PIS, properly-working Wifi, at seat charging, etc. There can be no compromises on those, especially when we see other TOCs’ seemingly getting refurbishments handed to them on a plate (eg: the XC centre cars, Northern’s fleet, 390s, etc).

With EMR, it’s been too much style-over-substance for my liking (for example: Miles, whipping the 170s straight off for a repaint after transferring from the previous TOC, the 360s going down to Eastleigh). The time really has come to focus on the passenger instead of the PR.

I think the turning point will be when the 196s finally come into service - until then, EMR’s 170 situation will continue to be as uncertain as ever.
 

fgwrich

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I’m surprised it hasn’t been mentioned yet but, 170418 was the first of the EMR 170s to venture to Liverpool since Central Trains days today. It ended up working the 1R70 1345 Nottingham to Liverpool Lime Street, returning as the 1L16 1652 Liverpool Lime Street to Nottingham.
 
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Chrisgr31

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171201 which is due to go to EMR from Southern in september i believe hasnt moved from a siding in Selhurst depot for a couple of weeks. I wonder if its carried its last Southern passenger?
There seemed to be a lot of 171s in Selhurst yesterday morning. I did wonder if they were gathering them up ready to move. Not sure if they can do the existing diagrams without them though.
 
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