Train formation length

[rf_ioliver]

Just wondering what are the longest combinations of DMU in common use (and what has been the longest in normal operation).

For example, I've seen 3x 3 car 159, 2x2 car 150, 2x2 car 158 and 142/3/4 commonly but are there services where 3+ 150/142/3/4 or 158s are used?

t.

Ian

 

[SprinterMan]

EMT use 5 and 6 car 153/156/158 lash ups in the summer to skegness.
SWT use up to 10 car 158/159 formations out of Waterloo.
8 car 150/1 formations have been used for Birmingham to Euston before when the OHLE was off for some reason.

Adam

 

[MCR247]

12 car 159? 10 car 158+159?

 

[starrymarkb]

2x221/222 Virgin, EMT and XC
2x158+2x159 with SWT
Not sure if FGW have any 2x180 diagrams.
2+9 254s on EC
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

12 car 159? 10 car 158+159?

12car 159 wouldn't fit in the platforms (276m!)

 

[MCR247]

Ah ok wasn't sure if they ever ran as such

2+9 254s on EC

 

[Rich McLean]

EMT use 5 and 6 car 153/156/158 lash ups in the summer to skegness.
SWT use up to 10 car 158/159 formations out of Waterloo.
8 car 150/1 formations have been used for Birmingham to Euston before when the OHLE was off for some reason.

Adam

That must of been fun

 

[IanXC]

Just wondering what are the longest combinations of DMU in common use (and what has been the longest in normal operation).

Depends how you define common use, but Virgin often use 3 Voyagers in multi when they are diverted via High Wycomb.

 

[6Gman]

In the 60s and early 70s 12car dmus were not unusual in North Wales (6 x 2car Met-Camm/ Park Royal/ Derby units).

 

[MCR247]

Oh yeah I forgot about that! IIRC that require something like every 221 Virgin has in service everyday!

 

[Wolf_359]

On the WC Mainline in the period when they were doing a lot of the upgade work & they had to switch the overhead power off on a Saturday night & Sunday morning, Silverlink Trains as it was at the time used to borrow 150/1s off of Central Trains & ran them in multiple to maintain the late night service.

The formations consisted of either the following.

2 x 150/1
3 x 150/1
4 x 150/1

They were unable to run the 150/0, 150/2, 158, 153, 170 or the 150 hybrids due to traction knowledge at Bletchley Traincrew Depot at the time.

These were the longest multi workings of DMU's that I have worked or seen working, however I have heard that the 150/1's etc in theory could run in up to 12 car formation.

 

[DXMachina]

Regarding : Can open, worms everywhere and not a scheduled occurrence so hardly relevant, but...

There has been a one-off case of a double HST formation on the ECML where a failed train was pushed by the following service: by chance both units were ex-DVT HSTs with buffers, this was recognised by the line controllers and used.

 

[12CSVT]

In the 60s and early 70s 12car dmus were not unusual in North Wales (6 x 2car Met-Camm/ Park Royal/ Derby units).

This continued into the 1980s with a summer Saturday morning service to Llandudno which was booked a 12 car DMU. Often the train formation would include 4 or 5 classes of unit (classes 100, 101, 103, 104, 108 all being regulars in North Wales at the time).

As for the longest DMUs ever to run (albeit as ECS), when the North Eastern region received its first DMUs, they were sometimes delivered in 4 x 4 car sets. Possibly the origional Derby Lightweights, delivered around 1954 to 1955.

 

[Manchester77]

Regarding : Can open, worms everywhere and not a scheduled occurrence so hardly relevant, but...

There has been a one-off case of a double HST formation on the ECML where a failed train was pushed by the following service: by chance both units were ex-DVT HSTs with buffers, this was recognised by the line controllers and used.

Yeah I saw a video on YouTube a fair few months ago with a full 91+mk4 pulling a full hst

 

[WatcherZero]

Ive seen 3x two car Sprinter formations, also once saw a two car Sprinter, single car Sprinter and two car pacer formation.

 

[SprinterMan]

Class 153 + 156 + 3 car 158 :P

Adam

 

[Rick1984]

wow!
I have been on 3x156 on the west highland line splitting thrice on route.
has there ever been am 8 car 156?

 

[12CSVT]

wow!
I have been on 2x156 on the west highland line splitting thrice on route.
has there ever been am 8 car 156?

Only as an ECS workings as far as I'm aware. There was at least one occasion just after they entered traffic, when four units were sent back from the Scottish region to Metro Cammel for rectification. At the time the 156s were plagued with a list of faults a mile long.

 

[John55]

Has anyone seen or heard of 2 x Pendolinos working together (not as a test), especially 2 x 11 car ones? Although not scheduled to happen it is supposed to be one of the ways around shortage of paths due to engineering work etc.

I believe the class 390s are EMUs so both units can be operated from the front cab for example.

 

[A-driver]

Has anyone seen or heard of 2 x Pendolinos working together (not as a test), especially 2 x 11 car ones? Although not scheduled to happen it is supposed to be one of the ways around shortage of paths due to engineering work etc.

I believe the class 390s are EMUs so both units can be operated from the front cab for example.

It has happened for testing purposes and can happen if a unit fails-it would be rescued by another. I doubt it would happen in normal service as not only would it not fit in any platforms but it would probably keep blowing the power supply by drawing too much power at once. I may be wrong with that as I don't know anything about 390s or the power capacity on the west coast but it's an educated guess.

And many locos as well as MUs can be worked in multiple from the front cab.

 

[D1009]

I've seen an 11 car formation of 165/166 units arrive at Reading on an Oxford Paddington stopper on a Sunday morning, but only the first 3 cars were in use ! I presume it was caused by disruption which resulted in too many sets at Oxford.

 

[PHILIPE]

Some months ago on a Saturday, the 19 40 Ebbw Vale to Cardiff was formed 153+150+153+150+142. This was the maximum (8) number of vehicles permissible with a Pacer in the formation. The trains on the day were formed 4 coaches and the previous train had failed at Ebbw Vale.

 

[telstarbox]

As for EMUs, Southeastern run 12-car 375s (3 x 4 coaches) in the peaks between London Charing Cross/Cannon Street and Ashford Intl.

 

[Rick1984]

as do SWT with there 450's to Portsmouth harbour. the trolley then decides to stay at front of train. never walked through so many doors!

 

[jopsuk]

As for EMUs, Southeastern run 12-car 375s (3 x 4 coaches) in the peaks between London Charing Cross/Cannon Street and Ashford Intl.

12 car EMUs run now out of every single electrified "London Terminal" apart from Paddington and Moorgate as far as I'm aware.

 

[D365]

And not Marylborne, but that's being picky. The discussion is supposed to be about DMU formations though.

 

[TEW]

Seen a 7-carriage formation on FGW once. 3-car 158, 150/2, 150/1. That was when there was engineering work going on and Brighton services were formed by extending the services from Portsmouth Harbour, which led to lots of attaching to balance the workings. If it hadn't have been for the chronic 3-car 158 shortage at the time the service could well have been 3x3-car 158s, so 9 carriages, which is what it was booked for. 9 carriages is unusually long for FGW, but not for SWT's 159s of course.

 

[1018509]

This is slightly off topic but a long multiple unit train notheless - during a particularly snowy winter i was a Train Technician on an 18 car (6 x 3 car) units of 1973 stock at Park Royal station.

Admitedly it was a push out to clear enough current rail for the first train to get moving and was only for a few minutes or so - drivers on each train and in full control of their train at all times.

Passengers on all three trains too.

I should add for those who don't know that a usual length train would be two three car units.

 

[jopsuk]

And not Marylborne, but that's being picky. The discussion is supposed to be about DMU formations though.

It was off topic- but I was careful to rule out Marylebone by using the word "electrified"- just as there are non 12 car services there, there is also no OHL or 3rd rail!

 

[D365]

There's electricity cables :P I didn't notice the specific detail..

 

[455driver]

12 car 159?

There was a 12 car run in service from Eastleigh to Basingstoke (it was going to be to Waterloo but somebody realised it wouldnt fit) during early morning disruption a few years ago.