April 28, 2021

Northern Class 150 Reformations.

Updated May 2nd, 2021.
Northern have commenced the reformation of four Class 150/1 and two Class 150/2 units into four three-car units. 150003/004/006 will have one toilet, with 150005 being the sole unit of the quartet which will have two toilets.

Below are the details for the "new" three-car Class 150s.

150003 formed of 150116 and 150209 (57209).
150004 formed of 150112 and 150209 (57212).
150005 formed of 150117 and 150223 (52223) - not 52224 of 150224 as previously reported.
150006 formed of 150147 and 150223 (57223) - not 57224 of 150224 as previously reported.

150001-006 will be deployed on services between Rochdale, Clitheroe and Blackburn. Four units will be diagrammed to be in service all day, a fifth will operate during the peak periods and the sixth unit will be spare.

March 13, 2021

Fleet News Round Up.

Hi all, I hope you're well.

I'm going to try a different post format this time, as I've added quite a few updates since the last time I updated the blog!

Northern Trains
The refurbishment programme is now complete, whilst 195021 has returned from undergoing repairs at Llanwern. I've also added the Class 156s which are due from EMR as replacements for the Class 153 fleet, I'll add the extra 323s once it's been confirmed how many and which units are to transfer. The other Northern lists have also been brought up to date.

Merseyrail
I've added the latest Class 777 deliveries, as well the additional unit which has been ordered for the upcoming extension of the Kirkby branch to the new station at Headbolt Lane. Six units will initially be configured as BEMUs as part of a trial to extend Merseyrail services beyond the third rail network. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the trial goes.

Miscellaneous
The latest addition to the blog is a page dedicated to the conversion of Mark 3 electric multiple units to Class 600, 769 and 799 units respectfully.

Updates will be as and when for the time being, at least until the next round of fleet changes at both Merseyrail and Northern. As always, if you see any errors or omissions, please let me know on my Facebook page.

Take care for now,
507021.

November 18, 2020

Autumn Fleet News Update.

Updated 19/11/2020

Class 144
144004, 144014, 144016, 144019 and 144020 are off lease.

Class 150
150268 is now PRM compliant, and has also been refurbished.

Class 156
156428, 156429, 156440 and 156451 are now allocated to Heaton.
156447 and 156485 are in works.

Class 158
158791-793 are now allocated to Heaton.
158842 and 158853 have been refurbished.
158851 and 158872 are in works, the latter has also been reallocated to Heaton.

Class 195
195132 has now entered service.
195133 has been delivered, completing delivery of the class.

Class 323
323223 is now PRM compliant and has been refurbished.

September 22, 2020

Fleet News Update - August/September 2020.

Class 142
142004, 142018, 142058, 142065, 142068, 142070, 142087, 142090 and 142094 are back in use.

Class 144
144003, 144008, 144009, 144018 and 144022 are off lease.

Class 150
150001 and 150002 are now in service.
150201 and 150210 are now allocated to Neville Hill.

Class 153
153301, 153304, 153307, 153315, 153331, 153352 and 153378 are now allocated to Newton Heath.

Class 156
156465 is now PRM compliant and has been refurbished.

Class 158
158815 and 158843 have been refurbished.
158842 and 158853 are in works.

Class 195
195022, 195023 and 195131 are now in service.

Class 322
322481 and 322482 have transferred to Greater Anglia.

Class 323
323225, 323231 and 323237 are now PRM compliant and have been refurbished.
323223 and 323224 are in works.

Class 331
331031 is now in service.

August 14, 2020

Fleet News Update - July 2020.

Before I begin this month's update, I'd like to announce that I have now also set up and launched a Facebook page, where I will also be sharing updates. The link to this page can be found at the top of the right hand menu.

Class 150
150111 and 150226 are now PRM compliant.
150001 and 150002 are in works.

Class 156
156460 and 156461 are now PRM compliant.

Class 158
158787, 158793, 158796, 158816 and 158850 have been refurbished.
158815 and 158844 are in works.

Class 195
195132 has been delivered.

Class 322
322483 and 322485 have transferred to Greater Anglia.

Class 323
323233 is now PRM compliant and has been refurbished.
323237 is in works.

Class 331
331031 has been delivered, completing delivery of the class.

Merseyrail
In Merseyrail news, 508110 is the second unit of the legacy fleet to be withdrawn. Notably, this unit was the first to be refurbished as part of Merseyrail's £32m refurbishment scheme which took place between 2002 and 2005, with the work being undertaken at Eastleigh.