Could Northern take on (and refurbish) the TFW 175s?

[scrapy]

Possibly one for a separate speculative thread but how many units do Northern need to work the services in the North East currently? And how many need strengthening? Just wondered if it would be a good idea for Northern to take on (and refurbish) the TFW 175s for the North East (assuming there would be no problems getting them route cleared). Moving the 158s and 156s south to cover capacity issues and possibly start replacing some 150s or the 769s

 

[Bletchleyite]

Possibly one for a separate speculative thread but how many units do Northern need to work the services in the North East currently? And how many need strengthening? Just wondered if it would be a good idea for Northern to take on (and refurbish) the TFW 175s for the North East (assuming there would be no problems getting them route cleared). Moving the 158s and 156s south to cover capacity issues and possibly start replacing some 150s or the 769s

Fairly sure there's been a thread on that recently, but in short, yes. They are very suited to the North's express services as that's what they were originally built for before transferring to Wales, basically being an uprated evolution of the 156.

Perhaps best kept off Castlefield due to the end doors, but plenty of Northern routes are suitable for them, allowing 195s to be reallocated to the local services where their layout and superb acceleration provide most benefit.

 

[47434]

Makes sense. S&C and Newcastle to Carlisle would be logical. Less depots to train. Lds - Nottingham would be another logical flow as the 2 car 195's are rammed.

Is there a suggestion that TfW are removing them?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Makes sense. S&C and Newcastle to Carlisle would be logical. Less depots to train. Lds - Nottingham would be another logical flow as the 2 car 195's are rammed.

Is there a suggestion that TfW are removing them?

Yes, TfW will be getting rid of the 175s once all the 197s have arrived.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Makes sense. S&C and Newcastle to Carlisle would be logical. Less depots to train. Lds - Nottingham would be another logical flow as the 2 car 195's are rammed.

Is there a suggestion that TfW are removing them?

TfW are replacing them with 197s/additional mk4 sets IIRC.

 

[Chester1]

Possibly one for a separate speculative thread but how many units do Northern need to work the services in the North East currently? And how many need strengthening? Just wondered if it would be a good idea for Northern to take on (and refurbish) the TFW 175s for the North East (assuming there would be no problems getting them route cleared). Moving the 158s and 156s south to cover capacity issues and possibly start replacing some 150s or the 769s

The 175s are currently being refurbished. Northern should take TfW 175 and 158s when they are no longer needed. I think they will also take the 769s.

The priority for removing old stock will be something like:

153
155
156
150
158
769

I can't see 158s and 769s being scrapped for another 10 years. 158s are better than 156s therefore should outlast them. It will be a challenge to get rid of all 150s over next several years, so there is no chance 769s will go. If anything Northern will want more 4 coach mid door bi mode units.

 

[Starmill]

Makes sense. S&C and Newcastle to Carlisle would be logical. Less depots to train. Lds - Nottingham would be another logical flow as the 2 car 195's are rammed.

Is there a suggestion that TfW are removing them?

The limitation on that is platform availability at Leeds rather than the availability of the rolling stock. Platform 17 is four car max of class 195 type vehicles, and they need to share it with the Knottingley services. So you could extend them by withdrawing the Knottingley to Leeds services between Castleford and Leeds, or finding a way to extend platform 17 (but good luck with either).

 

[Roast Veg]

There's lots of good homes for these. They'd be suitable replacing GWR castles, Chiltern Mk3s, or indeed on northern long distance services.