Northern takes on extra Class 156s

THE December 2021 timetable change saw Northern take delivery of the first of 15 additional Class 156s from East Midlands Railway, the transfer of which is being made possible by the expansion of EMR’s ‘Turbostar’ fleet with former West Midlands Railway sets.

Three ‘156s’, Nos. 156401/402/ 415, were transferred in December. While No. 156402 already carries Northern livery (having been released in its new operator’s colours in September 2021 following C6 overhaul at Wolverton), the other two have been put into service in the former East Midlands Trains blue/red/orange colours. On December 20, No. 156919 ran from Derby Etches Park to Wolverton for attention, and will emerge in Northern colours, reverting to its former identity of No. 156419 at the same time.