Presume 769421/52 (ie the cavalry from TfW) are still not yet ready, and 769431 at Brodies is still having its holes filled at Brodies. It's about time that Northern pulled the plug on this lot...........are Porterbrook now actually paying Northern to use these units as opposed to the other way round?
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Porterbrook Cl.769 'Flex' trains from 319s, initially for Northern
- Thread starter northwichcat
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GhostManDN91
Member
Ironically I did see 1 769 at Wigan Wallgate this evening but I'm guessing it was going ECS somewhere by the looks of it. Not good in the evening rush hour though 2 carriages to Southport from Manchester.
Had a check still none out it seems!
424 - Allerton
431 - Kilmarnock
434 - Allerton
442 - Springs Branch
448 - Springs Branch
450 - Allerton
456 - Allerton
458 - Allerton
Just two lots of 4 cars out on the Southport work off Southport 156 X 2 on the 1705 and 150+156 on the 1832
424 - Allerton
431 - Kilmarnock
434 - Allerton
442 - Springs Branch
448 - Springs Branch
450 - Allerton
456 - Allerton
458 - Allerton
Just two lots of 4 cars out on the Southport work off Southport 156 X 2 on the 1705 and 150+156 on the 1832
It would of been cheaper for the leasing company to refurb the ex 156s stored at Ely put wsp on them and run them as pairs more reliable than the 769s and could have interworked with other units .
They may have been rust buckets but look at some of the ex anglia ones that was taken to bare metal and rebuilt .
They may have been rust buckets but look at some of the ex anglia ones that was taken to bare metal and rebuilt .
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43096
On Moderation
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There are five off-lease 156s so not enough to replace the 769s. Second four of those 156s - the ones at Ely - are owned by a different ROSCO (Angel) than the 319/769 fleet (Porterbrook), so Porterbrook wouldn't be touching those four.
Soft Hands
Member
There are eight daily diagrams on the Southport / Oxford Road / Stalybridge services. In theory six are booked for 769's and two are booked 150/156 combos. All services are booked for four cars! The layovers are quite substantial, 45 minutes at Stalybridge and almost an hour in some cases at Southport. Generally, out of the peak, the sets do a return to Oxford Road, then a return to Stalybridge, then back to Oxford Road again.
D365
Veteran Member
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The 156s at Ely are knackered and are very unlikely to ever again see passenger use.
FrontSideBus
Member
With the reliability of these 769's, at this stage they'd be better off with 4 mk3's and a 37!
Surely the lease agreement has to have some sort of availability clause in it?
Surely the lease agreement has to have some sort of availability clause in it?
GhostManDN91
Member
Shame we can't bring back the Class 142s to cover the 769s. Oh wait.. 
Or a "Castle" class/half 125 shuttle to and from Southport, specifically to cover the peaks.
Yes it would cost more but there's value in a higher quality service offering - so much for Northern Powerhouse!
The LYR could justify club trains for this route, like Blackpool, which at least has electrification.
Or just hold some feet to the fire until the 769's are fixed.
WAO
P156KWJ
Established Member
Another one coming out of Eastriggs next week, off to Crewe.
It’s also unlikely they’d end up with Northern in this scenario either - they are Angel Trains owned units, while the 769 is Porterbrook’s disaster.
However, if Porterbrook has any of the Welsh 150s, I wonder if they may be weighing up and reconsidering the idea of not putting them through any more overhauls and writing them off, for a short term extended life with Northern?
37884 + 769434 on 5Q08 Allerton-Kilmarnock approaching Preston at 13.17.
3 769's started service today, no wonder can't have 6 in service as diagrammed as only 6 in the area. What's happened to 769421/52??
Update 8 April 37884 + 769431 on 5Q37 Kilmarnock-Allerton, currently at Edge Hill.
As yesterday, 3 769's started service today, several short forms using DMU's again.
3 769's started service today, no wonder can't have 6 in service as diagrammed as only 6 in the area. What's happened to 769421/52??
Update 8 April 37884 + 769431 on 5Q37 Kilmarnock-Allerton, currently at Edge Hill.
As yesterday, 3 769's started service today, several short forms using DMU's again.
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childwallblues
Established Member
769431 arrived back at Allerton Depot this afternoon hauled by 37884 passing through Liverpool South Parkway at 1613. I am unsure what work has been done on the unit but she has had a full repaint externally and looks very smart.
P156KWJ
Established Member
Next one out of Eastriggs on Thursday
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Realtime Trains | 5Q88 1350 Eastriggs M.O.D. to Crewe T.M.D. (E) | 10/04/2025
Real-time train running information for 5Q88 1350 departure from Eastriggs M.O.D. to Crewe T.M.D. (E) on 10/04/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Bob Price
Member
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- 8 Aug 2019
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For info 37884 has just towed 769452 from Crewe IED to the South Yard. The unit has had its pantograph refitted and is debranded.
zain_031
Member
Can confirm i have just seend 452 being towed, pantograph fitted
Bob Price
Member
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Just went past the Crewe cameras. There must be a reason for getting them back on and ready for use.
diligentdave
Member
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This Class 769 C6 exam generally involves a lot of interior overhauls. Repairs to seats, tables etc. The doorgear for the passenger doors has been upgraded to an IFE system, it's much quieter than the original Westinghouse system. Supposed to be more reliable as well. These 769's have also had a lot of corrosion work carried out on them (hence the 10 week works) so are now future proofed.
Some of the units will be having C4 overhauls at the same time (434 is one of these) so new bogies and underframe stuff as well.
431 on what I believe is it's debut after it's return from Scotland... Currently recieving fitters' attention at Victoria on 2W01. 2W02 442 is now also a requiring fitters but now also thankfully departed.
431 has been declared a failure. Heading back to the shed Edit 2. Did not have enough working engines to get to the shed, now going back to Allerton as 5Z85
431 has been declared a failure. Heading back to the shed Edit 2. Did not have enough working engines to get to the shed, now going back to Allerton as 5Z85
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Bertie the bus
Established Member
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Excellent news. The future's bright; the future's 2 car DMU's substituting for unrusty failed 769s.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
Why is this, because they need to have another to rescue in case another one pops too?
Yes exactly this. The only other Northern units that have the same tight lock couplers are 323s. So there needs to be a minimum of two 769 units in service (could be more), so if one fails either under the wires or on a non-electrified line, there is another 769 somewhere between Manchester/Stalybridge and Southport to rescue it....
175001
On Moderation
Another issue is that a 323 cannot rescue a 769 under the wires.
But, a 769 CAN rescue a 323!
But, a 769 CAN rescue a 323!
pokemonsuper9
Established Member
That is weird, do you know if that is related to the conversion or would a 319 have the same one direction compatibility?
Having a diesel engine under the 769 may be a big help
Weight restriction as to what a 323 can rescue means a 769 is definitely too heavy, not sure about the 319 though....
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175001
On Moderation
As pointed out, it's the differential weight unfortunately.