Passenger operators put parts of fleet into warm storage…

OPERATORS have been placing trains in warm storage, following the reduction in the number of services due to COVID-19.

While some companies have used this as an opportunity to permanently withdraw some vehicles, as Greater Anglia did with its Class 90-hauled Mk 3 sets ( RAIL 902), others have simply decided to ‘cycle’ trains through maintenance. However, a number of companies have also sent trains into storage, with some new sets among them.

Northern has removed its 23-strong Class 144 fleet from traffic, with 18 stored at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and the remainder stored at Heaton.

At the KWVR are 144001-007/ 009-014/016/017/019/020/022, which arrived at the heritage line in three convoys from Neville Hill and Hull. Stored at Heaton are 144008/015/018/021/023.

The operator has also ceased to use Class 142s, although these have yet to leave for store. Despite announcing that Pacers would be removed from traffic by the end of 2019, a dispensation was required to keep the ‘142s’ and ‘144s’ in traffic into this year. The ‘142s’ were able to stay in traffic until May 31; the ‘144s’ until August 31.

Asked if this was the end of Pacers with Northern, a spokesman told RAIL: “The Coronavirus pandemic is presenting the rail industry with an unprecedented challenge as operators and

Network Rail work together to keep key workers on the move.

“To assist with this difficult task, Northern is maintaining its current fleet of trains to ensure they are all available for use, if necessary, to help get key workers where they need to be.”

LNER has stopped using its fivecar Hitachi Azumas, with four of the Class 801/1 electric multiple units so far moved to Tyne Yard for secure storage (801108/110-112). Two bi-mode units (800201/207)

have been moved to Aberdeen Ferryhill.

LNER spokesman Peter

Hess explained: “In order to best support social distancing guidelines, LNER is operating ninecoach Azuma trains as part of the current reduced timetable. This also helps to minimise the number of crew required.”

Joining the Class 801/1s at

Tyne Yard will be a TransPennine Express Class 802/2, while the rest of the Hitachi fleet will be ‘cycled’ through exams by the operator.

East Midlands Railway was the first to send any vehicles away, dispensing with most of its singlecar Class 153s for the duration of the timetable downturn. These ran to Barrow Hill for secure storage on March 22.

Currently at the Derbyshire site are 153302/308/311/318/357/374/ 376/379/381/382/384/385, with the rest either undergoing an exam or being used in pairs as part of the EMR fleet.

Great Western Railway has placed its Class 143 Pacer fleet into warm storage, with the majority stabled at Exeter. These had been due for withdrawal following the cascade of trains from Bristol, but the latter has yet to take place and it remains to be seen if the ‘143s’ will be reinstated.

Elsewhere, GWR has not put any of its Intercity Express Trains into warm storage but is only using half the fleet. Its ‘Night Riviera’ fleet is also currently laid up as a result of GWR suspending the overnight service.

Chiltern Railways has made the decision to retire its remaining slam-door Mk 3 set from traffic.

Its withdrawal had been due by the end of June but has now been brought forward with Rail Operations Group taking the stock to Long Marston for storage. Owned by Arriva, the set contains Open First (FO) 11029/031,

Trailer Standard Open (TSO) 12017/026/043/054/094, 12119.

Chiltern was also running fewer Class 68-hauled ‘Silver Trains’.

Other operators are simply using fewer trains, while using the opportunity to carry out repairs on others.

Avanti West Coast confirmed it needs 29 Class 390 Pendolinos from a fleet of 56, and six

Class 221/1s from a fleet of 20. Currently there are no plans to place any trains in warm store.

In Scotland, ScotRail confirmed it is cycling its fleets around diagrams, rather than putting any trains into store. The operator explained that this will help minimise overall average mileages and maintenance requirements.

Greater Anglia’s Norwich-London Liverpool Street services are now all operated by Stadler Class 745s.

DUNCAN LANGTREE. Northern removed all 23 of its Class 144s from traffic at the beginning of April, as it became one of many operators to send trains for warm storage due to the reduction in passenger numbers and service levels. On April 3, Northern 144004 leads 144005/009 away from Leeds Midland Road with the 1443 Sheffield Shrewsbury Road-Keighley empty stock move.