Northern Rail

[childwallblues]

RE: Northern Rail
Another service using diesels is the 0739 MCV-LIV. Today this was Heatons 156480 plus a 142xxx.

[SK15 GZG (Moderator)]

RE: Northern Rail
The first pictures of the prototype Class 144e unit 144012 are now available (the links are below)

I think that it looks very smart both inside and out and I'm very much looking forward to travelling on it once it has re-entered traffic. I hope that all of the Class 143 and 144 units are refurbished to this very good standard as I think they would be a much better solution to the DMU stock shortage than refurbished ex London Underground D78 stock (which is due to be designated Class 230). I'm a big fan of the Class 144 units - so I think it's great to see that Porterbrook have developed a prototype that could potentially see the 143s and 144s remain in traffic after the 2019 DDA compliance deadline

The refurbished interior is certainly a step up to the existing Class 144 interiors apart from the bizarre omission of overhead luggage racks. Other than that I think looks excellent

Exterior: http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p9364992...#h4c727e05
Interior: http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p9364992...#h4c727c8d
Interior: http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p9364992...#h4c7276f7
New accessible toilet: http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p9364992...#h4c727f3b
Access ramp: http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p936499201/h4c727df2

Photographs credit to Paul Bigland

[wirralbus]

RE: Northern Rail
I do like the look of that unit , it shows that the original units where done on the very cheap in the first place , the accesible toilet makes me think im in a pendolino not an effective nodding donkey.

[SK15 GZG (Moderator)]

RE: Northern Rail
More information about the Class 144 refurbishment can be found here

[St Helens Rider]

RE: Northern Rail
Few problems this afternoon for Northern on the Blackpool North - Liverpool service, the 1603 from Blackpool (1651 ex Wigan North Western) came to a stand on the West Coast prior to Springs Branch. Waiting there for some time, it transpired that the points had failed. After about 25 minutes, the train was directed back into North Western (onto Platform 6) and then sent via the branch used by services terminating at Wigan. At St Helens Central around 30 minutes late. The irony being that this service is usually delayed prior to arriving at North Western (possibly due to difficulties regaining access to the 2 track section at Euxton) but this afternoon had left there on time.

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: Northern Rail
There was some issues on the Liverpool - Preston Line tonight as well

I was at Thatto Heath and the 23:26 to Preston Arrived at 12:11 and the 11:27 to Liverpool had not shown up by 12:45 when i left (and no replacement Bus either!) Having just looked on RTT it appears the Liverpool Service was sent via Bamfurlong meaning it missed out a number of Stations along the route, Since the Ticket Offices are shut by this point no ones going to know their Train aint coming...

[wirralbus]

RE: Northern Rail

(01/07/2015 00:09)bolton bus basher Wrote:  There was some issues on the Liverpool - Preston Line tonight as well

I was at Thatto Heath and the 23:26 to Preston Arrived at 12:11 and the 11:27 to Liverpool had not shown up by 12:45 when i left (and no replacement Bus either!) Having just looked on RTT it appears the Liverpool Service was sent via Bamfurlong meaning it missed out a number of Stations along the route, Since the Ticket Offices are shut by this point no ones going to know their Train aint coming...

Was this planned or unplanned ?

[wirralbus]

RE: Northern Rail

(30/06/2015 21:20)St Helens Rider Wrote:  Few problems this afternoon for Northern on the Blackpool North - Liverpool service, the 1603 from Blackpool (1651 ex Wigan North Western) came to a stand on the West Coast prior to Springs Branch. Waiting there for some time, it transpired that the points had failed. After about 25 minutes, the train was directed back into North Western (onto Platform 6) and then sent via the branch used by services terminating at Wigan. At St Helens Central around 30 minutes late. The irony being that this service is usually delayed prior to arriving at North Western (possibly due to difficulties regaining access to the 2 track section at Euxton) but this afternoon had left there on time.

It does show the flexibility of the layout at Wigan North Western these days , in previous times the service would have either had to wait for Network Rail or eventually get rerouted via Newton Le Willows (subject to driver route knowledge).

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: Northern Rail

(01/07/2015 07:39)wirralbus Wrote:  Was this planned or unplanned ?

It was not planned

[St Helens Rider]

RE: Northern Rail

(01/07/2015 07:44)wirralbus Wrote:  It does show the flexibility of the layout at Wigan North Western these days , in previous times the service would have either had to wait for Network Rail or eventually get rerouted via Newton Le Willows (subject to driver route knowledge).

The main bottleneck for the service is when the West Coast goes down from 4 to 2 tracks at Euxton. If there is a delay to the service at Preston, you can basically double/treble the delay in the estimated arrival time at Wigan.