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Northern Class 331: Construction/Introduction Updates

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pieguyrob

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I have seen 331025, 026 and 028 at Blackpool North the last 2 days. 331105 is still in platform 1.
 

47550

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There was a 331 working Piccadilly - Stoke yesterday. First time I have seen one working these services. It was the 1044 Piccadilly - Stoke and presumably other services on h this diagram. No idea which unit.
 

fishquinn

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Apologies if I've missed it but what are the 331s actually working now and are they sharing routes with other classes (319s and 323s)? Thanks
 

Chorley Cake

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Many of the western based 331/0 units act as pairs between Blackpool North and Hazel Grove or Liverpool Lime Street. More than half the fleet on those services.
 

fishquinn

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Awesome thanks, haven't at all been keeping up to date with the new fleet introductions so thought it was just a couple in service til earlier for some reason :lol:
 

MDB1images

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331030 noted today on CAF tests(presume fault free/mileage tests).

3Z12 08:00 Lancaster to Preston.
3Z13 09:49 Preston to Preston.
3Z14: 10:50 Preston to Preston.
3Z15: 11:52 Preston to Edge Hill C.S.
 

superkev

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331030 noted today on CAF tests(presume fault free/mileage tests).

3Z12 08:00 Lancaster to Preston.
3Z13 09:49 Preston to Preston.
3Z14: 10:50 Preston to Preston.
3Z15: 11:52 Preston to Edge Hill C.S.
Are the final deliveries, which I believe are 331 029 and 031 in the uk?
K
 

Jamesrob637

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Are the final deliveries, which I believe are 331 029 and 031 in the uk?
K

Don't think so as these were confirmed much later than the first batch. I'd say 2021. There probably wouldn't be much demand for them prior to next year anyway as passenger numbers only slowly recover from COVID-19.
 

Jamesrob637

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First batch?
Are northern getting more 331s?

I'm sure 3 more were "gifted" to Northern as a way of compensation for delays in 2018/2019. It's these which likely won't have been built yet especially if the factories have had to close down for a while owing to COVID-19.
 

43096

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Don't think so as these were confirmed much later than the first batch. I'd say 2021. There probably wouldn't be much demand for them prior to next year anyway as passenger numbers only slowly recover from COVID-19.
Are you getting confused with the three extra 195s (131-133?) ordered after electrification was cut back? I wasn’t aware of any changes to the 331 order.
 

Jamesrob637

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Are you getting confused with the three extra 195s (131-133?) ordered after electrification was cut back? I wasn’t aware of any changes to the 331 order.

Oh was that it? Happy to bow down to your superior knowledge. Have posted in the 195 thread 8-)
 

Purple Orange

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Good news about the extra cars. I’m very intrigued to know how many services in the north west can be formed of 6-cars regularly. Is it just going to be Blackpool-Hazel Grove and Liverpool-Crewe?
 

prod_pep

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Good news about the extra cars. I’m very intrigued to know how many services in the north west can be formed of 6-cars regularly. Is it just going to be Blackpool-Hazel Grove and Liverpool-Crewe?

Blackpool North - Manchester Airport was also regularly 6 cars before the COVID timetable, but not Liverpool - Crewe. There would have to be a lot of platform lengthening before this route could accommodate 6 cars. Liverpool - Blackpool can and does see 6 car (and even 7 car) working.

As I've said elsewhere, I strongly doubt any more than 17 of the 26 West Midlands 323s will move to Northern without a programme of platform lengthening across the North West, because at present there isn't enough work for the outstanding 9.
 

Purple Orange

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Blackpool North - Manchester Airport was also regularly 6 cars before the COVID timetable, but not Liverpool - Crewe. There would have to be a lot of platform lengthening before this route could accommodate 6 cars. Liverpool - Blackpool can and does see 6 car (and even 7 car) working.

As I've said elsewhere, I strongly doubt any more than 17 of the 26 West Midlands 323s will move to Northern without a programme of platform lengthening across the North West, because at present there isn't enough work for the outstanding 9.

That wouldn’t stop SDO operation for 6 car 331s though.
 

Jamesrob637

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That wouldn’t stop SDO operation for 6 car 331s though.

There is a thread for double CAF workings under "Allocations, Diagrams and Timetables" :D I opened it up just before COVID-19 kicked in the West. In fact I'm about to post something in it now as it's lain dormant since the pandemic and the start of lockdown.
 

prod_pep

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That wouldn’t stop SDO operation for 6 car 331s though.

Far too many short platforms between Liverpool and Crewe to make 6 car operation practical even with DOO. Most can only accommodate 4 cars as far as I know. Then there is the question of demand: I'm not sure 6 cars are even needed on this route.
 

Purple Orange

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Far too many short platforms between Liverpool and Crewe to make 6 car operation practical even with DOO. Most can only accommodate 4 cars as far as I know. Then there is the question of demand: I'm not sure 6 cars are even needed on this route.

I can only talk for Manchester-Crewe and Manchester to Alderley Edge services and 4 cars in the peak is not enough. They have been rammed and will be rammed post covid.

I would also expect that Liverpool-Manchester could realistically fill 6 cars.
 
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