Marston Vale 150s condition

[Bletchleyite]

( they aren't scruffy! They are just preloved and have now found thier forever home!)

They need a deep clean and new seat covers (don't care if they're blue or grey though). There's a heck of a lot of ingrained filth and the headrests are brown with hair grease.

TBH I'd have prioritised an interior refresh over painting the outside; they could have just removed the Northern branding and put a blue version of the LNR brand in its place.

 

[DarloRich]

I haven't noticed. I will check this evening!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Hair grease Lovely

 

[m79900]

I would've thought they'd receive an overhaul soon, especially considering they'll continue as the 'stopper train' when EWR opens. With no prospect of replacement for some time, unless a train builder makes a unit with short carriages, they'll need some more major work sooner or later.

 

[cactustwirly]

They need a deep clean and new seat covers (don't care if they're blue or grey though). There's a heck of a lot of ingrained filth and the headrests are brown with hair grease.

TBH I'd have prioritised an interior refresh over painting the outside; they could have just removed the Northern branding and put a blue version of the LNR brand in its place.

Weren't they recently refurbished under Northern?

 

[Robin Edwards]

The Marston Vale line has suffered many periods of very poor service over the decades to the point where as a regular user, I stopped relying on the trains in the early noughties from memory. In the 70's the 1st gen units used to be so smokey they'd make me cough!

Now the line is reopened, the three 150 units have bought some sanity again but I do agree from a trip last week on 150137, I too thought this units is decidedly grubby. I also wonder how they would support a service if one of the three should have a serious fault at any point?

I think it will be a tad embarrassing for EWR concept if the new trains to Oxford are all spartan and the line beyond Bletchley can't run a connecting service to Bedford due to end-of-life units?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I believe 150141 hadn't been in service for a while before it got sent down there (the only /1 I haven't ridden), and the others weren't exactly the best the fleet had.

The 150s definitely won't be able to live forever, they'll need replacement in the not too long future, although they might be able to get spares from the Northern/TfW units as they go for scrap (or will 230s come back with fast charge ?)

 

[D365]

The 150s definitely won't be able to live forever, they'll need replacement in the not too long future, although they might be able to get spares from the Northern/TfW units as they go for scrap (or will 230s come back with fast charge ?)

It’s all down to which ’option’ is agreed under EWR - retain existing stations [with platform extensions?] or consolidated stations.

 

[RailWonderer]

What was the reason for WMR not using 2 car 196s instead of keeping 150s ploughing on?

 

[AJDesiro]

What was the reason for WMR not using 2 car 196s instead of keeping 150s ploughing on?

196s are too long for the route, since they’d fowl signals and level crossings.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Weren't they recently refurbished under Northern?

Recently ish. As Northern's cleaning standards are rather lacking they have got very grubby.

 

[cactustwirly]

Recently ish. As Northern's cleaning standards are rather lacking they have got very grubby.

Well they can't be as bad as the Southeastern stock?

 

[Rail Quest]

The toilets seem to be quite dodgy on at least one of the units. On a recent trip, the toilet door lock opened the door when attempting to lock it which was rather counter intuitive. 150137 was the offending unit I believe.

Still, they don't stand out as being any worse than the examples still operating with Northern, a fleet I'm all too familiar with.

 

[Russel]

Recently ish. As Northern's cleaning standards are rather lacking they have got very grubby.

Unless Northern are still responsible for cleaning them, I'm not sure how relevant they are, given how long LNWR have had said units.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Unless Northern are still responsible for cleaning them, I'm not sure how relevant they are, given how long LNWR have had said units.

They were filthy when WMT got them - though perhaps rather than painting the outside WMT should have done a deep clean and replaced the seat covers.

 

[Yorkshire09876]

Unless Northern are still responsible for cleaning them, I'm not sure how relevant they are, given how long LNWR have had said units.

There's probably a load of ingrained filth around the seat mountings, etc. Northern 150s have been grotty for as long as I can remember, through several franchises. Getting them properly clean would probably entail removing the seat covers and cushions and having a good go at the seat bases and floor with a steam cleaner!

They were filthy when WMT got them - though perhaps rather than painting the outside WMT should have done a deep clean and replaced the seat covers.

Did they paint them, or is it just sticky back plastic?

 

[Bletchleyite]

There's probably a load of ingrained filth around the seat mountings, etc. Northern 150s have been grotty for as long as I can remember, through several franchises. Getting them properly clean would probably entail removing the seat covers and cushions and having a good go at the seat bases and floor with a steam cleaner!

It's certainly needed. As is taking the covers off and washing them properly - the brown muck from hair grease on the moquette is very visible. My impression is that they haven't been cleaned at all, not even in place using a Vax style cleaner.

Mind you if EMR didn't bother cleaning the ceilings as part of a comprehensive refurb with new seats on their 170s, what hope is there for attention to detail on the railway?

Did they paint them, or is it just sticky back plastic?

Not sure to be honest. Either way I'd have prioritised the interior over worrying whether they're green or not, a blue version of the LNR logo could always have been plonked where the Northern one was to do it more cheaply and concentrate on the important things.

 

[AJDesiro]

Not sure to be honest. Either way I'd have prioritised the interior over worrying whether they're green or not, a blue version of the LNR logo could always have been plonked where the Northern one was to do it more cheaply and concentrate on the important things.

I'm lead to believe that the livery is just a few vinyls over the old northern blue and white, hence why things like the cycle/wheelchair markings are northern-style rather than WMT's style. It also explains why the green bits at the cab ends extend much further back than they do on any other LNR-liveried units.

 

[Invincible]

196s are too long for the route, since they’d fowl signals and level crossings.

Aren't the 150s eventually going to be replaced by 196s as Chiltern takes over the line as part of the revived East West railway, so the signals and level crossings will have to be sorted?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Aren't the 150s eventually going to be replaced by 196s as Chiltern takes over the line as part of the revived East West railway, so the signals and level crossings will have to be sorted?

Eventually EWR will take over the line (which will necessitate rebuilding stations), but not in the first phase. It could be years.

 

[AJDesiro]

Aren't the 150s eventually going to be replaced by 196s as Chiltern takes over the line as part of the revived East West railway, so the signals and level crossings will have to be sorted?

That's between Oxford and Milton Keynes, I don't think any decisions have been made over who will operate beyond Bletchley, there's not enough 196s.

 

[DarloRich]

as a daily user of these services having a train with a slightly dirty seat is better than the bus replacement service we had for several years..............................

 

[Invincible]

That's between Oxford and Milton Keynes, I don't think any decisions have been made over who will operate beyond Bletchley, there's not enough 196s.

So if the line is not being upgraded till a target of 2030 according to

https://eastwestrail.co.uk/news/latest-stories/oxford-to-bedford-services-accelerated-as-part-of-spring-budget-investment

we’re delighted that work on the Marston Vale Line (MVL) between Bletchley and Bedford will be brought forward, enabling services between Oxford and Bedford to begin by 2030​

Time to buy new trains, presumably more 196s for though working, so the 150s will have to last another 5 years?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't think that work includes stuff like the "5 stations" work, just basic work that would allow a second train per hour on the line to allow the through semi fast Bedford to operate. So the 150s would be working alongside whatever worked that.

 

[tfw756rider]

What was the reason for WMR not using 2 car 196s instead of keeping 150s ploughing on?

196s are too long for the route, since they’d fowl signals and level crossings.

Exactly, it's basically a 40m unit length restriction and a 2-car 150 meets that with its two 20m vehicles = 40m.

A 153 (one 23m vehicle = 23m) also did, as did a 2-car 230 (two 18.4m vehicles = 36.8m).

A 2-car 170, 172, 196 etc. (or even 158, or indeed two 153s) would be too long, with two ~23-24m vehicles = ~46-48m.

I seem to recall that door positions may also come into it, but I think I'm "basically" right - happy to be corrected

 

[sqwizz]

I'm lead to believe that the livery is just a few vinyls over the old northern blue and white, hence why things like the cycle/wheelchair markings are northern-style rather than WMT's style. It also explains why the green bits at the cab ends extend much further back than they do on any other LNR-liveried units.

They missed a bit!

[image showing Northern livery still visible underneath LNR livery]

 

[Bletchleyite]

Exactly, it's basically a 40m unit length restriction and a 2-car 150 meets that with its two 20m vehicles = 40m.

A 153 (one 23m vehicle = 23m) also did, as did a 2-car 230 (two 18.4m vehicles = 36.8m).

A 2-car 170, 172, 196 etc. (or even 158, or indeed two 153s) would be too long, with two ~23-24m vehicles = ~46-48m.

I seem to recall that door positions may also come into it, but I think I'm "basically" right - happy to be corrected

In short yes, but this now-closed thread gives a lot of detail on the individual platforms:

Alternative solutions for the Marston Vale Line

Thought I would chuck this in to avoid too much speculation in the main thread. Obviously "buses" are one option, but this is to look at other options. As a start, I've found the relevant Sectional Appendices...

www.railforums.co.uk

They missed a bit!

[image showing Northern livery still visible underneath LNR livery]

Also appears to show that the bike pictogram was replicated onto the green end bit but the rest of it is the original!

 

[sqwizz]

While I was looking for that previous photo, I found some pics of the interior from late June 2024, so I thought I'd attach those below for context. (I was making a 150 skin for Train Sim and took a lot of reference photos...)

I don't know what they look like inside now, I haven't ridden on them since the £1 offer ended. A few days ago I did notice that from the outside you could barely see through any of the windows, aside from one that looks newly replaced.

 

[Russel]

While I was looking for that previous photo, I found some pics of the interior from late June 2024, so I thought I'd attach those below for context. (I was making a 150 skin for Train Sim and took a lot of reference photos...)

I don't know what they look like inside now, I haven't ridden on them since the £1 offer ended. A few days ago I did notice that from the outside you could barely see through any of the windows, aside from one that looks newly replaced.

Unless they've deteriorated since the photos were taken, or unless the photos were well taken to hide the dirt, they don't look that bad to me.

But then, I'm a regular XC Voyager passenger, so I've probably just stopped noticing dirt!

 

[vuzzeho]

From my trip on Monday - seats are kinda dirty but not the worst. Floor wasn't very clean and window was filthy. Could barely see out of it.