Third ‘172’ moves for modifications

Two-car 172003 was the third London Overground Class 172/0 to move to Ilford for refurbishment and fitting with a toilet, ahead of its use with West Midlands Trains.

The ‘172’ ran from Willesden to Ilford on January 28, the day that the first of the replacement four-car Class 378/2s entered traffic on the Barking-Gospel Oak route (see Network News, page 10-11).

The Class 172s had been due to leave LO by last November, at which time brand new Class 710/2s were all due to be in traffic. However, delays to the new trains meant WMT sub-leased the diesel multiple units back to LO until sufficient electric multiple units became available. Five ‘172s’ remain with LO (172001/004/005/007/008).

Testing of the first WMT ‘172/0’ also began on January 28, when 172006 ran between Tyseley and Rugby.