WMTrains livery and station branding

[59CosG95]

I can add 350377 and 350241 to the list of LNWR branded 350s, and 153365 to the list of WMR branded dogboxes. I also found out from someone within Kings Heath that no more relivery is due to occur at present - he did mention that the work was done by a contractor from outside WMT/Siemens' remit however.
Along with this, a formation update on 3 350s:
350233 is formed of 3 coaches from 233 & one from 246;
350246 is formed of 3 coaches from 246 & one from 264;
and 350264 is now testing to re-enter service, formed of 3 coaches from 264 and 1 from 233.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I can add 350377 and 350241 to the list of LNWR branded 350s, and 153365 to the list of WMR branded dogboxes. I also found out from someone within Kings Heath that no more relivery is due to occur at present - he did mention that the work was done by a contractor from outside WMT/Siemens' remit however.
Along with this, a formation update on 3 350s:
350233 is formed of 3 coaches from 233 & one from 246;
350246 is formed of 3 coaches from 246 & one from 264;
and 350264 is now testing to re-enter service, formed of 3 coaches from 264 and 1 from 233.

Affirmative. Will put into next list.

 

[59CosG95]

350s 109, 120, 130, 232, 238, 260 and 374 have also picked up LNWR stickers.
350236 may well be having its stickers applied now, as it's just returned from its "spa week" at Long Marston.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

350s 109, 120, 130, 232, 238, 260 and 374 have also picked up LNWR stickers.
350236 may well be having its stickers applied now, as it's just returned from its "spa week" at Long Marston.

Coolio. We shall soon find out. Next update scheduled for tomorrow. We should have enough changes to make a significant update then!

LatRz

 

[59CosG95]

150105, 150107, 170501, 170510, 170512, 170514, 170631, 170632, 170635, 153354 (possibly) and 153356 (definitely) have all got WMR branding.
Edit: 172211, 172216, 172218-222, 172332, 172337, 172338, 172340, 172341, 172343, 172344 and 172345 also have WMR branding, along with 323204 and 323208.
323217 should be out & about today, I'll keep watch for it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Seen the 350 again and I think I'm warming to it a bit, even with the yellow gangway. But it *really does* look scruffy because of the peeling paint and dead flies on said gangway.

Amusingly it was announced as a "London Midland service"...old habits die hard

Though one thing they *definitely* need to pack in is the childish over-familiar poster text. It really doesn't fit the "toned-down professional" house style that the livery and general house style projects.

 

[E_Reeves]

Seen the 350 again and I think I'm warming to it a bit, even with the yellow gangway. But it *really does* look scruffy because of the peeling paint and dead flies on said gangway.

Amusingly it was announced as a "London Midland service"...old habits die hard

Though one thing they *definitely* need to pack in is the childish over-familiar poster text. It really doesn't fit the "toned-down professional" house style that the livery and general house style projects.

Was it computer announced or staff?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Was it computer announced or staff?

Staff. While the 350/2 attached to it (which I near have to myself) has had the PIS updated to remove any TOC references, it still carries LM branding, so as LNR staff work 8 car sets from the front cab of the rear unit most of the time it's probably understandable

 

[59CosG95]

Just been reading Today's Railways UK's Feb '18 issue (194) and its piece on the WMT franchise has brought up a few key nuggets of information.
WMT's MD, Jan Chaudry-van der Velde, insists that the 323s are very good trains and that Porterbrook should have no difficulty in finding an operator to take them on, but that they aren't suitable for the Cross-City Line anymore due to the sheer number of passengers using the route.
(It's worth pointing out that he is particularly familiar with the Cross-City, as, during the 1980s, he regularly used the line during his time as a student at the University of Birmingham.)

The article also mentions that, despite their impending off-leases, both Classes 153 & 323 will receive a light refurbishment and PRM compliance modifications before 2020. Negotiations are reportedly still going on as to where the work will take place...because you can't say "when" unless you know where!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I wonder will the 153 PRM work involve removing the bog, locking it out or substantially reducing capacity?

Re the 323s, I'm sure they could be made suitable by changing the seating layout (e.g. to a combination of narrow 2+2 and longitudinal with door standbacks in the manner of the SWR 455s).

I have a feeling they will end up with Northern replacing 319s myself. They are more suitable for many reasons, not least because, while they aren't that new, they have a very modern design both inside and out and so don't have the "South East cast-offs" feel to them.

 

[59CosG95]

I wonder will the 153 PRM work involve removing the bog, locking it out or substantially reducing capacity?

Re the 323s, I'm sure they could be made suitable by changing the seating layout (e.g. to a combination of narrow 2+2 and longitudinal with door standbacks in the manner of the SWR 455s).

I have a feeling they will end up with Northern replacing 319s myself. They are more suitable for many reasons, not least because, while they aren't that new, they have a very modern design both inside and out and so don't have the "South East cast-offs" feel to them.

One of my earlier posts (#418) has put out the facts as to the Northern 323 fleet's re-diagramming, and potential 331/0 replacement.

I did read in issue 194 of Today's Railways UK that Northern, despite plans to replace them by the turn of the decade, were looking at new routes for 323s; these were I believe:

• Golborne Jct - Preston
• Preston - Lancaster
• Manchester & Ordsall Lane Jct Branch
• Deal Street & Edge Hill Line
• Manchester Victoria - Bolton
• Bolton - Euxton Jct
• Preston - Blackpool North
• Edge Hill Jct - Liverpool Lime Street.

The Manchester-Preston-Blackpool corridor is expected to be mainly 323-operated once complete (whenever that is); I'm assuming the 323s will be directly replaced by the 331/0s (31 3-car Civity EMUs) as they come on stream.

So they may be having a longer stay of execution, if only to provide additional capacity until the 331s arrive.

Back to liveries then: 350119 can be added to the list of LNWR-branded 350s. Rate they're going, they must be slapping them on on an almost nightly basis. @TT-ONR-NRN-I'll leave it to you to add in!

 

[59CosG95]

170507 can be added to the "LM but WMR branded" list.

 

[E_Reeves]

350377 has recieved LNWR stickers

 

[E_Reeves]

350117 also has them now

 

[59CosG95]

350s 122, 128, 252, 255 and 369 have also all received LNWR branding. 323217 has also got WMR stickers - meaning all the 323s are done.

 

[Chris172]

I asked WMTrains when more trains will be recieving the new livery and this was the reply

 

[59CosG95]

I thought as much. I do wonder when that'll begin...

 

[Chris172]

I know will be nice to have more trains done, I know the dmus will most likely be done at Tyseley and the EMUs (350s)at Siemens?

 

[59CosG95]

I know will be nice to have more trains done, I know the dmus will most likely be done at Tyseley and the EMUs (350s)at Siemens?

Yes, if this is confirmed, the 350s will be done at Northampton Kings Heath and the 172s at Tyseley. Not sure about the 139s though - they'll most likely be taken to Tyseley by road.

 

[Chris172]

Yes, if this is confirmed, the 350s will be done at Northampton Kings Heath and the 172s at Tyseley. Not sure about the 139s though - they'll most likely be taken to Tyseley by road.

Would love the return of the 153s when the 139s go for refurb. I think WMR need to get a longer shuttle as the little one gets packed roo easy at peaks

 

[E_Reeves]

Yes, if this is confirmed, the 350s will be done at Northampton Kings Heath and the 172s at Tyseley. Not sure about the 139s though - they'll most likely be taken to Tyseley by road.

Or you could send them through Birmingham?

 

[59CosG95]

Or you could send them through Birmingham?

I'd love to see a 139 try and climb Old Hill Bank under its own power.

The planning for such a move would probably take forever and a day, and be hideously expensive to boot. So the Allely's lorry will probably make a call and get it to another depot for painting off-site. I say probably in Italics as I genuinely haven't the least notion!

Would love the return of the 153s when the 139s go for refurb. I think WMR need to get a longer shuttle as the little one gets packed roo easy at peaks

The 153s will most likely stay where demand is needed most (i.e. everywhere they currently operate).

 

[DJames]

Would love the return of the 153s when the 139s go for refurb. I think WMR need to get a longer shuttle as the little one gets packed roo easy at peaks

Couldn't they just do the 139s one at a time, though, or would both of them be required to continue operating the current service?

 

[E_Reeves]

Maybe do one at a time and hope the one on the service doesn't break down. I don't suppose it'll take long to paint a 139?

 

[59CosG95]

Maybe do one at a time and hope the one on the service doesn't break down. I don't suppose it'll take long to paint a 139?

Not long at all - given that only one unit is needed per day, the other can be done when out of service at the crack of a whip.
I assume that, like the larger units, repaints will only be done during heavy maintenance.

 

[Defiance149]

350246 is formed of 3 coaches from 246 & one from 264;

Might be on the system but the damaged DM from 350246 was moved to Germany for repairs at the start of the month.

 

[Silverlink]

Starting to think the franchise has gone back to LM. Seeing loads of staff with LM name badges & uniform and the conductor today again said welcome aboard this LM service

 

[XCTurbostar]

Starting to think the franchise has gone back to LM. Seeing loads of staff with LM name badges & uniform and the conductor today again said welcome aboard this LM service

I was thinking that too actually. Looking at the staff outside Birmingham New Street, you'd be hard pushed to realise any branding had changed..

 

[Darkinsider]

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[Darkinsider]

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