Most services were poorly used between Earlestown and Warrington. But a half-hourly service between Liverpool & Earlestown ought to be restored - preferably continuing to Manchester Victoria or beyond (when electrification to Leeds is complete)
It was but it used 331s, and they were largely empty between Stockport and Hazel Grove except a couple of peak services . Hazel Grove was just a convenient place to terminate them, they were actually supposed to go to Macclesfield but Network Rail decided there wasn't the paths. You'd be carrying fresh air around most of the day. The 17.58 Manchester Piccadilly to Hazel Grove is a single 323 and still has usually had plenty of seats so I fail to see why 6 cars are needed.
I'll certainly be aiming to avoid those for when I go to Preston (to change to go onto Ulverston/Barrow, where my other half lives). The 45 minute journey from Salford on the stopper already drags, but at least on the current 331s I can get some work done on my Mac. That'll be far more difficult without the tables and plugs.
You can always pick up Barrow trains at Oxford Road, Deansgate or Bolton. No need to travel all the way to Preston.I'll certainly be aiming to avoid those for when I go to Preston (to change to go onto Ulverston/Barrow, where my other half lives). The 45 minute journey from Salford on the stopper already drags, but at least on the current 331s I can get some work done on my Mac. That'll be far more difficult without the tables and plugs.
I have noted 323205, 323208, 323213 and 323220 as in Northern livery. Only 323213 has been refurbished internally however; the rest retain their West Midlands interiors.
Apparently 323213 was done as such, so that there is a 'spare' 323 interior for use when the need for spares for the unrefurbished ex-WM interiors comes.
www.northernrailway.co.uk
Yes this is correct; The 323s are far from the oldest trains in the country and were only operated by BR for four years at very most. They also have have very modern traction equipment as the old gate turn-off motor controls were replaced by IGBT equipment 10-15 years ago and have excellent performance, even by modern standards.
See post 46 above
It’s missing three carriages!
Indeed, I was rather looking forward (sad I know!
) to a 323 for a change and got the usual 331 out of Oxford Rd this morning (0706) on the Airport - Blackpools and it was late. 323217 was on the Lime Street run this morning though.
When Northern was first created Manchester-Blackpool was moved to TPE. The route got 185s: air conditioning, catering, and first class.
It will actually put me off day trips to the Fylde coast. So their economy suffers a little - what if hundreds think likewise? A total retrograde step, wouldn't be so bad if they were refurbed 2x2 or even a small first-class upgrade.
Perhaps most people would prefer to have a seat though, rather than being forced to stand.
This is my thinking. I regularly head home to Manchester from Bolton around either 5pm or 6pm and 9 times out of 10 I stand all the way back. Luckily it's not a huge distance but you know people have been standing for longer. Also, is there really huge demand to travel first class to Blackpool??
Completely agree - currently on way back from Manchester on the ex-WMT 323242 that’s in a double set with a Northern unit - old and knackered indeed! Worse than I imagined - I can see quite a few complaints when these become the dominant traction on the line
They don’t have the stock for that and no doubt empties to and from Carriage Sidings just for customer comfort isn’t going to be top priority
Never going to happen.
