First Class 153s sent for storage, with more to follow
Six Class 153s are now stored at Potter Group, Ely. They are the first second-generation diesel multiple units to be sent off-lease by a current operator, with more expected to follow.
The former East Midlands Railway single-car DMUs (153302/ 318/368/372/374/382) ran from Derby Etches Park to Ely under their own power on July 1.
RAIL sources have suggested that while there is currently no work lined up for the DMUs, they will not be sent for scrap. In recent times Transport for Wales has taken extra ‘153s’, while three are currently being rebuilt as ‘active travel’ vehicles for ScotRail with two more to follow ( RAIL 908).
The EMR examples were due to go off-lease on July 1, but any decision to extend their lease was rejected owing to the fall in passenger numbers resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. At the start of lockdown, EMR put the majority of its ‘153’ fleet into store ( RAIL 903).
Northern has added EMR ‘153s’ to its list of trains with dispensation to operate until the end of the year despite a lack of accessible interiors, but this was done purely to enable it to hire a DMU for the Barton branch service.
TfW as well as Northern have been suggested as possible new homes for the DMUs. However, it is understood that the latter is looking to rid itself of all its Class 153s at the end of the year, replacing them with Class 156s cascaded from EMR. That deal is not confirmed and will rely on Class 170s moving to EMR from West Midlands Railway.
The ‘153s’ at Ely are owned by Angel Trains.