Northern Unit Refurbishments

[3973EXL]

Well, 5B42 1022 NH - Crewe is running.

 

[superkev]

Wolcerton? Spelling error?

I can spell. It's just this phone that gets it wrong

 

[jonesy3001]

Well, 5B42 1022 NH - Crewe is running.

According to posts on Facebook it's 150001

 

[superkev]

Well, 5B42 1022 NH - Crewe is running.

Theres another path at 13.32 to Crewe LNWR rather than Crewe CS. What the difference?
K

 

[158757]

I was on 156421 last week. It has USB/wi-fi/saloon screens etc..

All the Porterbrook 156's except 460 which has only just come back from Wolverton now have these.

No sign of any Heaton-Holbeck moves today but there was one to and from Neville Hill, a 3 car 158 swap perhaps?

 

[Adam0984]

All the Porterbrook 156's except 460 which has only just come back from Wolverton now have these.

No sign of any Heaton-Holbeck moves today but there was one to and from Neville Hill, a 3 car 158 swap perhaps?

They dont come from Heaton because they're 3 cars which only rarely venture to Heaton for exam.
158755 was going onto Holbeck earlier so presumably the next culprit for interior refresh

 

[OTRail]

Are the 3 car units having Fainsa seats fitted?

They dont come from Heaton because they're 3 cars which only rarely venture to Heaton for exam.
158755 was going onto Holbeck earlier so presumably the next culprit for interior refresh

 

[Halish Railway]

Are the 3 car units having Fainsa seats fitted?

No - The seatbacks are being painted black and are getting Class 323 style moquette. It’s a bit odd if you ask me.

 

[Adam0984]

Its the standard unstandard refurb so all units are exactly the same but different

 

[superkev]

All the Porterbrook 156's except 460 which has only just come back from Wolverton now have digital train mods.

Perhaps strangely with just one Portabook 156 460 reportedly not having digital train mods I have 156 451 as the only Angel one having them. Am I correct that 460 is Portabook and 451 an Angel unit.
K

 

[simon7929]

The first Porterbrook unit for a full refurb was 156420. It was refurbished mid 2018 but had no wifi or USB when it returned. The only Angel unit to have the full refurb with everything complete is 156451.

 

[simon7929]

Although 156451 does not have the backs of the seats painted Black.

 

[158757]

They dont come from Heaton because they're 3 cars which only rarely venture to Heaton for exam.
158755 was going onto Holbeck earlier so presumably the next culprit for interior refresh

Sorry when I said Heaton-Holbeck moves I was referring to 156s!

Perhaps strangely with just one Portabook 156 460 reportedly not having digital train mods I have 156 451 as the only Angel one having them. Am I correct that 460 is Portabook and 451 an Angel unit.
K

Yes, the Chapman seated 156s are Porterbrook and the Richmond seated ones are Angel, as are the ex ScotRail sets.

The first Porterbrook unit for a full refurb was 156420. It was refurbished mid 2018 but had no wifi or USB when it returned. The only Angel unit to have the full refurb with everything complete is 156451.

Yes, same for the 150's, only one Angel set with USB and WiFi so far which is 220. I'm not sure where the Porterbrook 156s are getting their digital mods done but I suspect it's at Newton Heath. Wherever it is they manage it quickly, I had 156426 2 days after it came back from Wolverton without them and it was back in traffic just over a week after with them fitted. Let's hope they start on the rest of the units soon as they're quite useful to have!

 

[ScottGallagher]

Is there a picture anywhere of the refurbished interior of a 156 with Richmond seats?

 

[simon7929]

 

[northernchris]

Looks really smart!

 

[simon7929]

The interiors were painted about 18 months to 2 years ago. So whilst the floor and the seats look new. The interior decor is starting to look tatty. This is the problem with staggered refurbishments. The Porterbrook 156 units have been done in one go more or less. So look good almost immediately. Even if it is not for long.

 

[simon7929]

I don't understand this new concept of 'a bit at a time'.. when it comes to refurbs?

 

[ScottGallagher]

That looks quite nice. I agree though it's bound to more expensive to do things bit by bit.
You wouldn't decorate your living room doing one wall every 2 months and have to move the furniture out each time.
Bizarre but I'm sure it's logical somehow in railway terms.

 

[Liverpool 507]

They look very good, especially the refurbed Porterbrook and ex SR units. I wasn’t keen on lino floor 156s at first, but they’ve warmed on me and are looking so much better than their previous state.

 

[simon7929]

The ScotRail 156s have been done to a much higher standard than the Northern ones. And are looked after better.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The ScotRail 156s have been done to a much higher standard than the Northern ones. And are looked after better.

Did those ones not need a more thorough refurbishment though, being among the last units with the original seats?

 

[Liverpool 507]

Did those ones not need a more thorough refurbishment though, being among the last units with the original seats?

Yes, the ex SR units have required more in depth work than Northerns other 156’s.

 

[superkev]

RE When usb sockets etc are fitted to units that have already had some interior refurbishment.
I like to think that wiring etc. has been done and they don't have to dismantle the interiors again. Sadly I dont live in hope
K

 

[AMD]

I don't understand this new concept of 'a bit at a time'.. when it comes to refurbs?

Principally driven by the need to get a lot of units 'PRMed' before 31/12/19, so that became phase 1, with the 'nice stuff' following later when the time pressure is off - you can only take so many units out of use at a time without affecting the train plan.

 

[Liverpool 507]

RE When usb sockets etc are fitted to units that have already had some interior refurbishment.
I like to think that wiring etc. has been done and they don't have to dismantle the interiors again. Sadly I dont live in hope
K

The 156 units are starting to have a quick turnover in regard to the digital modifications being carried out.

 

[northernchris]

The 156 units are starting to have a quick turnover in regard to the digital modifications being carried out.

Is it known where the digital mods are carried out and roughly how long they take?

 

[jaketaylor]

Currently on 158910 on Bishop Auckland-Saltburn, it feels a lot smother ride than the 1588xx

 

[simon7929]

I was on it today. Bit of a flying machine.

 

[simon7929]

Should've been 1925 from Bishop Auckland tonight