Late cascades leave Northern short of trains
Northern has only 26 of the 61 additional trains it was supposed to have by the start of the May timetable.
Two Class 158s and four Class 170s have arrived from Scotland (there should be a combined total of 25), while none of the eight Class 769 Flex bi-mode trains are yet in traffic. Four Class 319s due to move north have all been delivered. Thirteen of the planned 15 two-car Class 150/1s have arrived from Great Western Railway, as have three of six Class 153s.
Leasing company Porterbrook has told RAIL it is supplying additional ‘319s’ at a reduced leasing charge to help support additional services. These are being prepared for service after more than a year in store.
The delays are largely due to latedelivery of trains and infrastructure that meant cascades were not made as planned. Additional driver training on traction is also required before many fleets can enter traffic.
The diesel multiple units from ScotRail were to have been released following the introduction of Class 385 electric multiple units on the Edinburgh-Glasgow route from December 2017, but this has been stymied by delayed delivery of the ‘385s’. When interim ‘365’ EMUs are introduced from July, the number of electrically operated EGIP trains will rise from 30% to 90%, and the DMUs can be released.
Cascades from Scotland are further hampered by the late delivery of SR’s first High Speed Train sets, which will enable more DMUs to be released. So far, 158870/871 and 170475-478 have moved south. The ‘158s’ are two of eight sub-leased to SR by Northern since 2007 (the others are 158782/786/789, 158867-869).
The ‘769s’ are being converted from redundant ‘319s’ by Wabtec Rail at Brush Traction, Loughborough.
Originally, testing was supposed to have started in late 2017, ahead of their introduction this year, with all eight in service from May. Two ‘769s’ are almost complete at Loughborough (769434/456), with testing taking place at the Great Central Railway, but there is no date for their introduction into service. Four EMUs in traffic with Northern (319431/442/448/450) are due to be converted into BMUs. Flex formed part of a deal for 12 four-car trains for Northern, with eight BMUs and four EMUs - the EMUs have been delivered and are in traffic.
Fifteen two-car Class 150/1s were due to move to Northern, and so far 13 have been sent north (150101/102/104/106/108/ 120-124/127-131), with two more delayed until next year (150125/126). Three single-car ex-GWR Class 153s have also moved north (153305/373/380), and these will be joined by three more.
GWR was unable to release the DMUs earlier due to the late internal cascade of Class 166 Turbos from the Thames Valley to the Bristol area, and the subsequent cascade west of Class 150/2 and Class 158 DMUs to the far South West, which in turn released DMUs for Northern.
This delay was caused by electrification and the late delivery of the Great Western Main Line test track west of Reading, that meant driver training on Class 387 EMUs was not possible.
Northern has agreed with six other operators that until July 29, its tickets will be accepted on CrossCountry, East Midlands Trains, Merseyrail, TransPennine Express, Virgin Trains East Coast (soon to be LNER) and Virgin West Coast.