West Midlands 153 and 170

[Metroman62]

Today, March 29, I caught the 16:35 from Kidderminster to Dorrigde. I was surprised to see the third carriage was a class 153, a separate unit. When I got of at Smethwick G Bridge I am pretty sure the front unit was a 170. I travel to and from Kidderminster about once every 2 weeks and occasionally see a 170 with everything else being a 172. How rare is a 153/170 combination? At about 18:45 I saw the same combination of train at New Street, it was roughy on platform 7, it could not have been the same sets could it?

 

[train_lover]

It wouldn't of been the same set. WMT runs a number of 170 153 combinations all day between Rugeley and New Street, New Street and Hereford.

On the dark side theres just 1 diagram for this combination.

1252 Shrub Hill to Whitlocks End
1419 Whitlocks End to Foregate
1613 Foregate to Dorridge
1747 Dorridge to Stourbridge Junction
Then ECS from Stourbridge back to Shrub Hill where its stables over night.

 

[Sprinter107]

That combo runs empty from Tyseley, via Bromsgrove to Worcester Shrub Hill to work the 12.52 Worcester Shrub Hill to Whitlocks End.

 

[bramling]

Today, March 29, I caught the 16:35 from Kidderminster to Dorrigde. I was surprised to see the third carriage was a class 153, a separate unit. When I got of at Smethwick G Bridge I am pretty sure the front unit was a 170. I travel to and from Kidderminster about once every 2 weeks and occasionally see a 170 with everything else being a 172. How rare is a 153/170 combination? At about 18:45 I saw the same combination of train at New Street, it was roughy on platform 7, it could not have been the same sets could it?

Very common on New Street to Rugeley services at one point.

 

[Metroman62]

Thank you. It does look a strange combination. I will keep a look out for this train set to make my journey more interesting

 

[anamyd]

those 153+170 combos have been going around for years and years! at New Street recently, the train before mine on my platform was a 153 with a 3-car 170 on the back and I had to chuckle as it departed

 

[PHILIPE]

Very common on New Street to Rugeley services at one point.

And Hereford

 

[Metroman62]

I caught the same service yesterday with a 170 / 153. The 153 stopped in front of me, the door light came on, I pressed but nothing happened! I am sure the unit was in use, but I moved quickly to the 170. I don’t know if the door did open, but can they be slow?

 

[train_lover]

The doors typically quicker at opening on a 153. However they are much slower at closing!