ThanksThey'll have to get a derogation to run. WM will have to aswell with 5 months left theyve got 2 out of 26 units done
ThanksThey'll have to get a derogation to run. WM will have to aswell with 5 months left theyve got 2 out of 26 units done
Northern has confirmed it has reached agreement with Porterbrook and the Department for Transport to retain its 17 Class 323 EMUs and to take on the 26 ‘323s’ being released by West Midlands Trains.
The operator was originally to withdraw the 17 units, but will retain them in place of Class 319s (also owned by Porterbrook). The newer sets have considerably better performance and are preferred by passengers and drivers.
https://modern-railways.keypublishi...to-retain-323s/?dm_i=4JU,6FMXB,CA2EU1,PHY67,1
Northern confirmed this with the press release about the pacers retiringModern Railways’ website is now reporting, (in an article published today 15th), that all 323s are definitely staying with or going to Northern:
Is that online somewhere? Perhaps you could link to it...Northern confirmed this with the press release about the pacers retiring
Certainly, 2nd paragraph from the bottom.Is that online somewhere? Perhaps you could link to it...
Yes, but that didn’t mention the incoming ex-LM fleet as well? That seems to be news, although widely expected.
So, repainting the 319s. That was money well spent.
So, repainting the 319s. That was money well spent.
This is great news. The 323s are excellent EMUs, perfectly suited to the jobs they currently do in the North West. Let's hope for a good refurbishment.
Good riddance to the 319s on the Liverpool Lime Street services, I say. Unreliable and uncomfortable units with dreadful acceleration and consistently poor availability. Three of the last four booked 319 workings I've used in the last month have been operated by substitute DMUs.
I have to agree that they've never been the most reliable and the facing seats are way too close together. I am surprised about the acceleration though. They always seemed pretty nippy on the Brighton line and that was on 750V supply. Perhaps the Northern drivers notch up gradually whilst the Brighton drivers put them on full blast from the off?This is great news. The 323s are excellent EMUs, perfectly suited to the jobs they currently do in the North West. Let's hope for a good refurbishment.
Good riddance to the 319s on the Liverpool Lime Street services, I say. Unreliable and uncomfortable units with dreadful acceleration and consistently poor availability. Three of the last four booked 319 workings I've used in the last month have been operated by substitute DMUs.
A lot more than that was done. Haven't most received all their PRM mods already?
It would certainly be an awkward micro-fleet with high maintenance cost and limited driver rotas. There has been some discussion about a bi-mode version of the 195/331 Civity unit on here - which would be more preferable in terms of familiarity for Northern. Although they would be more expensive and are they really in it for the long-term? Doubt it.If Northern will not have any 319s in a year or two, is there any benefit to them having fleet of just 8 769 units?
They were suitable for stopping work when they operated for Thameslink. Luton to Sutton comes to mind plus of course West Hampstead through the core to London Bridge.As a Chat Moss commuter I had must first 323 experience recently and was very impressed with the acceleration vs a class 319. The 319s aren't bad units when they work (availability has been an issue!) but they don't seem particularly suited for stopping work.
It is in the Modern Railways article previously quoted in post #543:I didn't see if it said the 319s would be going? (and I've probably missed it)
https://modern-railways.keypublishi...to-retain-323s/?dm_i=4JU,6FMXB,CA2EU1,PHY67,1Northern has confirmed it has reached agreement with Porterbrook and the Department for Transport to retain its 17 Class 323 EMUs and to take on the 26 ‘323s’ being released by West Midlands Trains.
The operator was originally to withdraw the 17 units, but will retain them in place of Class 319s (also owned by Porterbrook). The newer sets have considerably better performance and are preferred by passengers and drivers.
With refurbishment not having been planned for these units Northern has now started a programme to upgrade the sets, with No 323234 the first to enter the overhaul programme in the second week of August. On completion of this work the sets will receive the new Northern livery before they return to service.
So Northern will eventually have a fleet of 43x323s, in place of the 27x319s envisaged in the franchise agreement (5 of the original 32x319s were to be returned after the 331s were in service). And that 319 fleet was intended to furnish 6 diagrams for the Wigan to Stalybridge/Alderley Edge routes, which have not (yet) been electrified.
Even if we assume that Lostock to Wigan and Victoria to Stalybridge electrification will be completed before the end of the franchise, this will be a big uplift in EMU capacity. 129x23m vehicles instead of 108x20m - 19% more vehicles and a 37% increase in total carriage length!
I guess the plan must be for many of the 323s to operate in 6-car formations. This will require some more platform lengthening, unless they are to be retrofitted with SDO.
Slightly off topic..we'd love the 319s back down south to replace the southern 313s