Extension for Welsh non-PRM DMUs

IN CONTRAST to the Class 142s, Transport for Wales has been granted dispensation to continue using its Class 143 fleet until May 31 this year, along with the Class 153s, which do not have the Passengers with Reduced Mobility modifications. It is hoped that the Brush-modified Class 769 FLEX units will be in squadron service and reliable enough by this date to allow the remaining Pacers to be withdrawn and the Class 153s to either be stood down or sent for the PRM alterations if they are retained long term, as is under consideration. To comply with the legislation, the toilets on all non-compliant units have been locked out of use and they must be coupled to another set that has the PRM modifications.

To provide easy recognition of the unmodified singlecar Sprinters, they are being renumbered as Class 153/9s, with the former East Midlands Railway quartet of 153310/13/21/26 becoming 153910/13/21/26 by midJanuary, along with ex-Greater Anglia set 153335, which is now 153935.

Still to be noted with their new identities during January were 153306/09/14/22.

Also renumbered are 153372 and 153382, two of four additional Angel Trainsowned Class 153s going on lease to Transport for Wales to bolster the fleet, seemingly at the expense of the previously touted ex-West Midlands examples owned by Porterbrook. The two former EMR examples arrived at Canton on November 5, 2020 and by mid-January the new look 153972 and 153982 were about ready for traffic. The third set, 153318, left Ely Papworth on January 5 in the company of 153374, initially running to Swansea Landore and then back to Cardiff Canton seven days later once space at the facility was available.

A bogie swap will see 153374 surrender its superior bogies to its classmate before it heads back into storage, while 153368 is also expected to make the long journey from East Anglia to South Wales imminently as the fourth unit to return to traffic.