London Midland Class 170 + 153

[Panceltic]

Hello,

I have seen this composition in Birmingham twice last week, why do they join a single 153 at the end of the train? When the train stopped in Moor Street Station, the guard told something to the passangers (I didn't quite hear it) and then they all boarded the 170. There were no passangers in the 153.

Thanks

 

[wellwhatitis]

Hello,

I have seen this composition in Birmingham twice last week, why do they join a single 153 at the end of the train? When the train stopped in Moor Street Station, the guard told something to the passangers (I didn't quite hear it) and then they all boarded the 170. There were no passangers in the 153.

Thanks

They use this formation on one diagram on the Snow Hill lines and also on Rugeley. Otherwise it would just be a 2 car 170 which isn't sufficient.

You should see what happens when the 153 isn't available, it isn't pretty...

 

[fishquinn]

It is a 3 car 170 a 153. and has set diagrams. They are listed below.

2S44 1252 Worcester Shrub Hill to Whitlocks End
2V34 1419 Whitlocks End to Worcester Foregate Street
2C60 1613 Worcester Foregate Street to Dorridge
2J02 1803 Dorridge to Stourbridge Junction
5V02 1905 Stourbridge Junction to Worcester L.M.D.

 

[Panceltic]

Thanks to both! I have seen the 12:52 at Moor Street, and later one (probably the 16:13) at Snow Hill.

 

[northernrailer]

Just a quick question regarding this service the 1252 Worcester to Whitlocks End service, it is booked a 170 / 153, all the times I have seen this service the class 153 is always locked out of use - does anyone know the reason why?

This year I have been to Birmingham 8 times and every time its been 170634 on the service, is there a restriction that 170634 has to be kept on this service or is it purely a coincidence that 634 ends up on this service every time I visit Birmingham?

Does the class 153 get opened up to passengers on the return working from Whitlocks End, because it not it just seems a waste of a unit, unless it is tagged on to keep drivers traction card valid for 153s on the Snow Hill line.

 

[fishquinn]

It isn't always 170634; it is whatever 170/6 is free. And I have traveled on the return service before with the 153 in use.

 

[cactustwirly]

I've travelled on the opposite service into Worcester, (by accident) and the 153 was in use.

Although I would have preferred 2x150

 

[PHILIPE]

Probably the 153 would be in use for the peaks only due to no through access to the 170

 

[hassaanhc]

When I used the southbound 2S44 1251 Worcester Shrub Hill to Whitlocks End (between Cradley Heath and Stourbridge Junction) on 9 January 2015, it was 170632+153354 with the 153 locked out.

However, the northbound 2V24 1419 Whitlock's End to Worcester Foregate Street (with me travelling between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stourbridge Junction) on 27 January 2015 produced 153365+170630 and the 153 was open for passengers.

Is there a short platform on the southbound journey which would leave no way out for passengers?

 

[TheEdge]

I'm sure I've seen this formation in and out of Hereford in the past...

 

[bb21]

There are still a few such journeys for Hereford.

1M57, 1V30 and 1M76 are the ones coming into my head. The 153 detaches after arrival back at New Street on 1M76.

 

[sprinterguy]

The 153 is always available on the 17:22 off Snow Hill (2C60), and it is a helpful way of ensuring a four carriage formation where it is needed. As wellwhatitis says, it gets "cosy" on those days where the 153 is not available and it runs as a three car.

All of the 170/6s rotate through the diagram, there is not a specific unit kept dedicated to it.