Porterbrook Cl.769 'Flex' trains from 319s, initially for Northern

[175001]

Unit sat down at Meols Cop. The usual on off didn't work. Fitters attended around 1745 and was cleared by 1900

 

[Class360/1]

Unit sat down at Meols Cop. The usual on off didn't work. Fitters attended around 1745 and was cleared by 1900

Not another problem in one day!

 

[175001]

I was the first arrival into Southport at 1935, after nearly 4 hours with no train

 

[AMD]

Yesterday's problem was a brake relay in the leading cab deciding that it had enough.

 

[D9006]

One has failed at Meols Cop on the outbound of what should be my train home. 13:49 Alderley Edge to Southport. The return 16:17 to Alderley Edge isn't at Oxford Road and probably won't turn up. Another 6-car 331 for me it seems. Yesterday it was delayed by tresspassers so not Northern's fault however it was only 2-car so there must've been a problem somewhere and sometime.

2 car 150 picked up return working at Oxford Road

All diagrams on Southport to Alderley Edge are being worked by 769s, that’s a 1st for few weeks

 

[Jamesrob637]

Two more breakdowns for these heaps of expletive today.

One of which still hasn't moved after three hours!

Realtime Trains - 2W20 1851 Alderley Edge to Southport

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

At least the other managed to limp into Oxford Road where you can get past it quite easily.

 

[D9006]

Two more breakdowns for these heaps of expletive today.

One of which still hasn't moved after three hours!

Realtime Trains - 2W20 1851 Alderley Edge to Southport

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

At least the other managed to limp into Oxford Road where you can get past it quite easily.

Then they got underway as this

Then they got underway as this

 

[a_c_skinner]

These trains don't work properly and there seems (to an uninformed observer) no prospect of them working properly.

 

[anthony263]

A few Drs mark2s have been sent to canton depot according to reports on Facebook.

A few enthusiasts getting excited expecting a 37 loco hauled service back

 

[craigybagel]

A few Drs mark2s have been sent to canton depot according to reports on Facebook.

A few enthusiasts getting excited expecting a 37 loco hauled service back

As soon as I heard about that move I knew exactly which rumours would be doing the rounds!

I suspect there'll be a fair few disappointed enthusiasts about soon.

 

[ABB125]

As soon as I heard about that move I knew exactly which rumours would be doing the rounds!

I suspect there'll be a fair few disappointed enthusiasts about soon.

Do you know what the Mk2s are for, if not replacing the class 769s?

 

[craigybagel]

Do you know what the Mk2s are for, if not replacing the class 769s?

No idea. But there are many many reasons why it won't be for that.

 

[Class360/1]

No idea. But there are many many reasons why it won't be for that.

Because of prm stuff and so on. Too complex so I doubt they will replace the troubled 769’s

 

[PHILIPE]

To put all rumours/suggestions/assumption/guessing to bed they are ultimately for use by Network Rail. I know no further details but they are off topic in a 769 thread. The source is from a known reliable informant.

 

[Killingworth]

On topic with Northern 769s, it might help understanding if it were known what are the causes of the failures. It would also be interesting to know if all units are suffering from the same type and numbers of failures. Northern will be keeping detailed records

That's commercially sensitive information so we're very unlikely to be able to see it. However at least some of the failures will be issues that could as easily have afflicted an old 319 or 150, or any newly introduced class. But patience must be getting sorely tried!

 

[Jamesrob637]

On the other hand, a 2-car has just become a 769 for the 16:15 Southport to Alderley Edge!

 

[D9006]

On the other hand, a 2-car has just become a 769 for the 16:15 Southport to Alderley Edge!

diagrams switched 156460 was on Alderley edge but did quick turnaround to do the stalybridge working which 769434 was covering

 

[Jamesrob637]

diagrams switched 156460 was on Alderley edge but did quick turnaround to do the stalybridge working which 769434 was covering

Not moaning though 3 out of 4 so far this week (I was off Tuesday)

 

[js1000]

These 769s are a disaster at the moment. Stood on platform 13 at Piccadilly watching rammed and delayed 2 carriage 150/156s go by due to "a broken down train". (17:19 to Southport and 17:38 to Alderley Edge). It was better when the Pacers were in service on the Southport-Alderley Edge service. At least you'd have a good chance of a 4 carriage service.

 

[JN114]

The only disruption currently in Manchester area that could logically be attributed to “a broken down train” was a failed freight train around an hour or so ago between Crewe and Stockport - was the freight train a 769, and that’s how they’re causing this disaster?

Because it couldn’t possibly be a failed 66 blocking the line the 769s usually run on causing stock displacement and short forms while Northern step up units where possible to minimise cancellations - that wouldn’t fit in with the disaster narrative.

 

[js1000]

The only disruption currently in Manchester area that could logically be attributed to “a broken down train” was a failed freight train around an hour or so ago between Crewe and Stockport - was the freight train a 769, and that’s how they’re causing this disaster?

Because it couldn’t possibly be a failed 66 blocking the line the 769s usually run on causing stock displacement and short forms while Northern step up units where possible to minimise cancellations - that wouldn’t fit in with the disaster narrative.

I've seen short-formed 150/156s all week on the Southport-Alderley Edge service as have many others. In fact for the last 3 months.

 

[a_c_skinner]

That's commercially sensitive information

Horse feathers. No one will buy any more no matter what the list of faults says.

This does grieve me. A huge proportion of Northern services in my neck of the woods (N. Lancs) should be bi-modes.

 

[Killingworth]

Horse feathers. No one will buy any more no matter what the list of faults says.

This does grieve me. A huge proportion of Northern services in my neck of the woods (N. Lancs) should be bi-modes.

A project long delayed so it should have worked. Seems it hasn't but time has moved on. All 30 year old Northern unts need to be replaced with bi-modes until all electric is possible. Units like Greater Anglia's new 745 and 755s already seem successful so should be considered.

 

[AM9]

A project long delayed so it should have worked. Seems it hasn't but time has moved on. All 30 year old Northern unts need to be replaced with bi-modes until all electric is possible. Units like Greater Anglia's new 745 and 755s already seem successful so should be considered.

All you need to do is wait for the budget to be found, - then there will be as many new trains as you want.

 

[Wyrleybart]

A project long delayed so it should have worked. Seems it hasn't but time has moved on. All 30 year old Northern unts need to be replaced with bi-modes until all electric is possible. Units like Greater Anglia's new 745 and 755s already seem successful so should be considered.

Plenty of EMUs coming out of service and going for scrap or storage. The industry should be looking at batteries in the medium term with a long term strategy for electrification. Funny how the Scottish have already planned it on their albeit significantly smaller network.

 

[a_c_skinner]

The industry should be looking at batteries in the medium term

Are they easier to add on than a diesel generator? Off topic here to discuss something that might work of course.

 

[Gricer99]

If this fiasco is Boris’ promise of levelling up, he”s having a laugh!
If I were Northern I would run a diesel Southport to Bolton service and a Bolton to Alderney Edge electric service with good connections at Bolton. Shouldn’t be that difficult to do!

 

[AM9]

If this fiasco is Boris’ promise of levelling up, he”s having a laugh!
If I were Northern I would run a diesel Southport to Bolton service and a Bolton to Alderney Edge electric service with good connections at Bolton. Shouldn’t be that difficult to do!

Except the expectation of direct trains from everywhere to everywhere else in Northern land.

 

[AndrewE]

Except the expectation of direct trains from everywhere to everywhere else in Northern land.

Isn't that what bi-modes are for? Barrow to Manchester Airport, Southport to somewhere SE of Manchester but no diesel fumes in the city.
What's not to like, as they say?

 

[Bertie the bus]

Of course that ignores the fact Bolton isn’t a station you can easily terminate services from the west at, that having a through service to Manchester (the nearest major city) isn’t expecting a through service from everywhere to everywhere, and Boris became PM in 2019 and these things date back to 2016.

Apart from those points I agree wholeheartedly.