Northern Class 331: Construction/Introduction Updates

[D6130]

That would also be my phone autocorrecting it from Castlefield. You can tell it’s Sunday.

LOL !

 

[darylyates17]

Have all 331s entered service now?

 

[jonesy3001]

Have all 331s entered service now?

All 12 331/1s are in service in Yorkshire as i have taken pics of all of them.

 

[Neptune]

Have all 331s entered service now?

Yes both 3 and 4 car.

 

[darylyates17]

Yes both 3 and 4 car.

Thanks for the Confirmation.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I think they were all in service even pre-COVID (if not by much)

 

[Thomas6187]

331019 is currently working the 1533 Piccadilly to Glossop and return. Its the first time in passenger service at 331 has been used

 

[Manclad83]

Just seen in Hadfield.

 

[175001]

331s on Manchester Victoria - Preston's from May

 

[jonnyfan]

331019 is currently working the 1533 Piccadilly to Glossop and return. Its the first time in passenger service at 331 has been used

They will be used occasionally when requested by Network Rail as 331s are equipped with cameras for the OHLE so can be used to monitor the condition of the overheads. Makes for a little bit of variety on the Hadfield line!

 

[Manclad83]

Why won’t the 331’s make more regular appearances on the Glossop/Hadfields?

 

[jonnyfan]

Why won’t the 331’s make more regular appearances on the Glossop/Hadfields?

The 331s are already spoken for on other routes, not to stay they might not spring up time to time to cover for unavailable 323s. However with more 323s coming over to Northern, they will be the main stay out to Hadfield for the foreseeable.

 

[_toommm_]

Why won’t the 331’s make more regular appearances on the Glossop/Hadfields?

3+2 seating is definitely needed on the Glossop Line at peak times. Even now it’s full and standing for about two hours in the morning and the same in the evening.

Putting a 2+2 seated train with tables on the line in the peaks would be a big mistake.

 

[jonesy3001]

Thought the 4 cars were going on the glossop line or is that not happening now?

 

[_toommm_]

Thought the 4 cars were going on the glossop line or is that not happening now?

The platforms were extended to fit four cars in the last two years. Flowery Field in the Glossop direction could only just fit a 323 before that.

 

[jonesy3001]

The platforms were extended to fit four cars in the last two years. Flowery Field in the Glossop direction could only just fit a 323 before that.

Unless it was for the 319s but northern decided to keep the 323s.

 

[_toommm_]

Unless it was for the 319s but northern decided to keep the 323s.

Potentially. The original plan was for 319s to be used from 2017 to 2020, then ‘new trains’ to be used from then. Concerns weee raised back then about the tight timetable not mixing well with 319s.

Source:

Friends of Glossop Station

www.friends-of-glossop-station.co.uk

 

[CJ]

331s on Manchester Victoria - Preston's from May

Would that be all services/paths, or just select few (with some still being 319s)?

 

[KendalKing]

Would that be all services/paths, or just select few (with some still being 319s)?

All Manchester - Preston booked 331's, 319's are booked to Blackpool North - Liverpool Lime Street.

 

[Halish Railway]

Would that be all services/paths, or just select few (with some still being 319s)?

It’s still two-hourly from May, so just one unit going back and forth.

 

[Greybeard33]

It’s still two-hourly from May, so just one unit going back and forth.

Booked as 6-car, 2x331/0.

 

[Geeves]

It’s still two-hourly from May, so just one unit going back and forth.

Its hourly at the moment.

 

[Greybeard33]

Its hourly at the moment.

Although the Blackpool - Airport service goes back to hourly in May, versus only 6tpd currently.

 

[323 Class]

331009 on The Man Piccadilly to Glossop service at the moment. Realtime trains reports 323230 as running but this seems to have been swapped out.

 

[js1000]

General observation but Northern have started putting ticket revenue staff on both sets of train units when coupled up together to form 6 carriages. Begs the question why didn't they go for end gangways as West Midlands Trains did.

 

[Halifaxlad]

General observation but Northern have started putting ticket revenue staff on both sets of train units when coupled up together to form 6 carriages. Begs the question why didn't they go for end gangways as West Midlands Trains did.

Sometimes I don't think these things get considered.

Although having two staff is sometimes more effective.

 

[jonesy3001]

Happens on most services now, one on the doors another doing the ticket collections.

 

[js1000]

Happens on most services now, one on the doors another doing the ticket collections.

I don't know if it's anything to do with the recent temporary scaling back of services which has allowed conductors (who would be operating on services which were temporarily stopped) to be allocated to double units as it has been a feature the last couple of weeks. The timetables were amended because of Covid outbreaks at depots and staff getting pinged, but if staff are available then clearly they have to be allocated somewhere. Will be interesting to see if it continues in September when services return to normal.

 

[jonesy3001]

I don't know if it's anything to do with the recent temporary scaling back of services which has allowed conductors (who would be operating on services which were temporarily stopped) to be allocated to double units as it has been a feature the last couple of weeks. The timetables were amended because of Covid outbreaks at depots and staff getting pinged, but if staff are available then clearly they have to be allocated somewhere. Will be interesting to see if it continues in September when services return to normal.

Happens quite a lot on the Harrogate line.

 

[_toommm_]

General observation but Northern have started putting ticket revenue staff on both sets of train units when coupled up together to form 6 carriages. Begs the question why didn't they go for end gangways as West Midlands Trains did.

Interesting... just last week the front unit on the Hazel Grove/Manchester Airport to Blackpool was a fare dodgers' paradise!