British Rail Class 156 Super Sprinter | |
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In service | 16 May 1988 –present |
Manufacturer | Metro-Cammell |
Order no. |
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Built at | Washwood Heath, Birmingham |
Family name | Sprinter |
Replaced |
|
Constructed | 1987–1989 [2] |
Number built | 114 |
Number in service | 109 |
Formation |
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Diagram |
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Fleet numbers | 156401–156514 [3] |
Capacity |
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Owners |
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Operators | |
Depots | |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | Steel |
Car length | 22.385 m (73 ft 5.3 in) |
Width | 2.730 m (8 ft 11.5 in) |
Height | 3.805 m (12 ft 5.8 in) |
Floor height | 1.135 m (3 ft 8.7 in) |
Doors | Single-leaf pocket sliding (2 per side per car) [3] |
Wheelbase |
|
Maximum speed | 75 mph (120 km/h) |
Weight |
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Prime mover(s) | 2 × Cummins NT855-R5 (one per vehicle) |
Engine type | Inline-6 4-stroke turbo-diesel [7] |
Displacement | 14 L (855 cu in) per engine [7] |
Power output | 430 kW (570 hp) total [3] |
Transmission | 2 × Voith T 211 r (hydrokinetic, one per vehicle) [1] |
HVAC | Warm air |
UIC classification | 2′B′+B′2′ |
Bogies |
|
Minimum turning radius | 90.5 m (297 ft) |
Braking system(s) | Electro-pneumatic (tread) ('Westcode' three-step) [8] |
Safety system(s) | |
Coupling system | BSI |
Multiple working | Within class, and with Classes 14x, 15x, and 170 [3] |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Notes/references | |
Specifications as at March 1987, [9] except where otherwise noted. |
The British Rail Class 156 Super Sprinter is a diesel-hydraulic multiple unit passenger train. A total of 114 sets were built between 1987 and 1989 for British Rail by Metro-Cammell's Washwood Heath works. They were built to replace elderly first-generation DMUs and locomotive-hauled passenger trains.
By the beginning of the 1980s, British Rail (BR) operated a large fleet of first generation DMUs, which had been constructed in prior decades to various designs. [10] While formulating its long-term strategy for this sector of its operations, British Rail planners recognised that there would be considerable costs incurred by undertaking refurbishment programmes necessary for the continued use of these ageing multiple units. Planners instead examined the prospects for the development and introduction of a new generation of DMUs to succeed the first generation. [11]
The initial specification was relatively ambitious, calling for a maximum speed of 90 mph (145 km/h) and acceleration comparable to contemporary EMUs. [11] This specification led to the experimental British Rail Class 210 DMU. However, it was found to be expensive, and it was recognised that a production model assembled from proven components would possess greater reliability and lower maintenance costs; an availability rate of 85 percent was forecast. [11]
By 1983, experiences with the Class 210 had influenced BR planners to favour procuring a new generation of DMUs, but to also adopt a new specification that were somewhat less demanding than before. [11] Specifically, it was decided to drop the top speed from 90 to 75 mph (145 to 120 km/h), as testing had revealed the higher rate to deliver no perceivable improvement in journey times due to the typically short spacing of the stations the type was intended to serve. [11] The requests for compatibility with other rolling stock were eliminated, although auto-coupling and auto-connecting functionality was added. In addition to a good ride quality, the specification included a sound level of 90 dB when at full speed, an operational range of 1,000 miles (1,600 km), and an interval between major overhauls of five years or 350,000 miles (560,000 km). [11]
The bid submitted by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) was heavily based on its successful Class 455 EMU, sharing its body and the majority of its running gear, albeit equipped with two different power trains. [11]
The resulting Class 150 was viewed as unsatisfactory for more-upmarket services. Studies showed coaches could be stretched, providing more internal volume and thus enabling the somewhat cramped two-by-three seating arrangement of the Class 150 to be substituted with a more roomy two-by-two counterpart. These changes could be implemented without impacting much of the benefits of adopting the existing design. [11]
It was identified that this would result in a weight increase and thus a decreased power-to-weight ratio, but it was determined that the performance of the proposed DMU was only slightly lower, and it could achieve similar journey times across the intended cross-country routes as the Class 150. [11] It was also found that, while there was a slight increase in fuel consumption due to the changes, the envisioned DMU had lower fuel consumption than locomotive-hauled trains and lower maintenance costs. Accordingly, it was decided to proceed with developing a detailed specification and issuing it to industry. [11] Amongst the requirements listed in the issued specification was the explicit statement of the acceptability of the proven power trains of both the Class 150 and Class 151. [11]
The design of the Class 156 was relatively conservative in comparison to Metro-Cammell's earlier Class 151 design. Specific changes include the bodyshell being primarily composed of steel instead of aluminium; the deliberate decision was made to model the cab design on the earlier Class 150 was allegedly taken to ease union acceptance.[ citation needed ] Each coach is powered, being outfitted with a single six-cylinder Cummins NT855-R5 diesel engine coupled to a Voith T211r hydraulic transmission and Gmeinder final drive units. [12] [13] The Class 156 can achieve a top speed of 75 mph (120 km/h). Construction of the welded bodyshells was subcontracted out; 118 by Procor Engineering of Wakefield, 60 by W.H. Davis of Mansfield, and 50 by Standard Wagon of Heywood. Aston Martin Tickford were awarded the interior fitout contract. [12]
The units were numbered 156401 to 156514. Each unit was formed of two powered vehicles, one of which contained a toilet. [13] Individual vehicle are numbered as follows, where the final three digits of the vehicle number match the unit to which the vehicle belongs:
Unlike the Class 150 units, the 156s have a single-leaf sliding door at either end of each coach. This reflected the expected longer journeys with fewer stops that the Class 156 was supposed to operate. As with the Class 150, all the doors are operable by passengers when released by the guard using one of two passenger door control panels; they are energised using a carriage key to turn a rotary switch situated on the cab bulkhead. Units operated by Abellio ScotRail have additionally been fitted with door-control panels near the centre sets of doors for the convenience of the guard.[ citation needed ]
Nine units used by Greater Anglia were transferred to East Midlands Railway in 2019, at which point they were renumbered into the 156/9 subclass (156419 becoming 156919, and so on) to indicate that their public address and passenger information systems were incompatible with EMR's existing Class 156 units. [14] [15] A number of these units started to transfer to Northern Trains from December 2021 onwards, at which point they were returned to their original numbers. [16]
On 10 November 1987, 156401 conducted its first test run from Washwood Heath to Banbury. Between January and July 1988, 156401-156429 were delivered to Crown Point TMD entering service on 16 May 1988 on new services from East Anglia to North West England as well as existing services from Norwich and Cambridge to Birmingham. They also operated boat trains from Harwich to Blackpool and later Liverpool. [12]
The remaining 85 were delivered to Heaton, Neville Hill, Haymarket and Inverness. With the Class 155 units withdrawn due to faulty door mechanisms, 25 were transferred to Cardiff from December 1988, with the last remaining until November 1989. In this guise they operated services as far south as Portsmouth. In May 1991, six were transferred from Crown Point to Derby Etches Park. [12]
On 15 June 1989, 156502 was sent to the Netherlands as part of the Dutch Railways 150th anniversary celebrations. It returned on 10 July. [12] On 21 October 1993, 156405 became the first Sprinter to accrue 1 million miles, whilst working the 10:10 Great Yarmouth to Norwich service.[ citation needed ]
The first 100 were painted in Provincial sector's livery of blue and beige with light blue stripe. Twenty units based at Tyseley depot, 156401–156419 and 156422, were later repainted into Regional Railways Express livery after the rebranding of Provincial. The last fourteen units were operated by Strathclyde PTE, and carried an orange and black livery. Following the delivery of the Class 158s in the early 1990s, the 156s began to be cascaded to less important services. [12]
In the early 1990s, British Rail was looking to save costs on rural routes, and decided that operating two-car trains was too expensive. The company planned to convert a number of Class 156 units into single-car vehicles, named as Class 152. In the event, the decision was taken to do this with the Class 155 instead, forming the Class 153 fleet. [17]
As part of the privatisation of British Rail, the Class 156 fleet was split and sold to Angel Trains (76 units) and Porterbrook (38), who then leased the units to a number of train operating companies. [18] [19]
At privatisation the Scottish fleet passed to the National Express owned ScotRail franchise, which used them until 2004 when the franchise was taken over by First ScotRail. All passed to Abellio ScotRail with the franchise in 2015.
Units 156500–156514 were operated by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and originally wore its orange and black livery. This was replaced with a carmine and cream livery in 1997, which was also applied to further 14 units. [20] [21] Despite receiving these special liveries, the SPT units were not confined to any specific route and thus worked in tandem with the rest of the Class 156 fleet on other routes.
In September 2008, Transport Scotland announced that all ScotRail trains (including those of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) would be repainted in a new livery of blue with white saltire markings on the carriage ends. The first unit was repainted in this livery by RailCare Springburn in February 2009. [22]
In December 2014, unit 156478 was written off by Angel Trains and sold to Brodie Leasing after being damaged by floodwaters on the Glasgow South Western Line. Brodie Leasing repaired the unit and it returned to service with Abellio ScotRail in October 2016. [23]
Between 2016 and 2019, all of ScotRail's Class 156 units were refurbished to make them compliant with PRM-TSI standard. This refurbishment included a larger toilet, a dedicated wheelchair area and brand new interior upholstery with new seats similar to those found on the Class 385. [24]
In late 2018, five units transferred to Arriva Rail North after the Class 385s began to enter service. [25]
From 2020, ScotRail’s Class 156 units began operating in multiple with Class 153 units on the West Highland Line to provide upgraded seating and additional capacity for bicycles and other sporting equipment. [26]
The ScotRail 156s currently operate the following routes:
Only the fifteen units fitted with Radio Electronic Token Block signalling equipment can operate on the West Highland Line.[ citation needed ]
Having originally been based in the East Anglia region but later transferred away, in early 2005 they returned when One received nine from Central Trains in exchange for a similar number of Class 150s. [27]
The units were used on the following local services:
as well as the longer distance services between Ipswich to Cambridge/Peterborough.
All nine passed to Abellio Greater Anglia when it took over the Greater Anglia franchise in February 2012. Despite being overhauled by Railcare Wolverton in 2012/13, including work to make them comply with disability legislation, all were replaced by Class 755s with the last day of service being 29 January 2020. [28] [29] These then moved to East Midlands Railway, [30] where they were renumbered into the 156/9 subclass. [15]
Following privatisation, both Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western operated Class 156s and implemented their own refurbishment programmes. The two fleets were united when Northern Rail took over both franchises in 2004. Within the Northern region, Class 156s are concentrated in the North-West and also the North-East, but are uncommon now in Yorkshire and Humberside, where Class 158s and other unit types are used instead.[ citation needed ]
In 2011, fourteen Class 156s were fitted with GPS as a trial for Northern Rail, being tested on the Esk Valley line. [31] In 2011 four were transferred to East Midlands Trains. [32]
In January 2015, Northern Rail began to hire 156s to First TransPennine Express to operate Manchester Airport to Blackpool North services. [33] Northern Rail's fleet of 42 Class 156s passed to Arriva Rail North when the then-new franchise started on 1 April 2016. The 156s began to operate Manchester Airport to Barrow in Furness and Oxenholme to Windermere services from this date after they along with the Manchester Airport to Blackpool North services were transferred to the franchise. [34]
An additional five Class 156 units transferred to Northern from Abellio ScotRail in late 2018. [25] On 1 March 2020 the Northern units were transferred to new operator Northern Trains.
Fifteen Class 156s are to be transferred from East Midlands Railway to Northern Trains. These units include the nine Class 156/9s formerly used by Greater Anglia. [35] Some of these units are already with Northern Trains, with more due to follow. [36] The delivery of them commenced at the December timetable change in 2021. [16] For the December timetable change in 2022, five more units were transferred. [37] In March 2023 another unit was transferred. [38]
In 1997, Central Trains inherited twenty units from Regional Railways [39] for use mainly on medium-distance services such as:
In an attempt at fleet standardisation, preparations were made during 2003 to exchange all 20 Class 156s for an equal number of ScotRail Class 158s, with 156402 partially repainted in ScotRail colours in readiness when overhauled at Wabtec, Doncaster. [40] The transfer did not proceed after the Scottish Government refused to sanction the move, and the rest of the fleet were reliveried into Central Trains' colours between 2003 and 2005.[ citation needed ]
Nine units were transferred to One during early 2005, in exchange for a similar number of Class 150s. [27]
At the end of the Central Trains franchise, the remaining 11 units were transferred to East Midlands Trains, who repainted the fleet during 2008 [41] and then carried out a refurbishment program from autumn 2010 onwards. [42] The refurbishment, carried out at Neville Hill depot, included interior refurbishment work, improvements to driving cabs and installation of CCTV. [43] [44] These trains were used on slower medium-distance services such as Nottingham/Derby to Matlock, Nottingham to Skegness, Leicester to Lincoln and Nottingham to Worksop. In May 2011, four additional units were transferred from Northern Rail to allow Nottingham to Liverpool services to be strengthened. [44]
Beginning in late 2019, the nine class 156s transferred to Greater Anglia in 2005, passed to East Midlands Railway. [45] Because they had a different public address and passenger information system to EMR's existing Class 156 fleet, they were renumbered into the 156/9 subclass. [14] [15]
In December 2022, four units were sent for storage at Barrow Hill, with East Midlands Railway stating that they will be moved to Ely Papworth sidings at a later date. [46]
This section needs additional citations for verification .(March 2022) |
Class | Operator | Qty. | Year built | Cars | Unit nos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
156/0 | Northern Trains | 66 | 1987–1989 | 2 | 156401–156406, 156408–156429, 156438, 156440–156441, 156443–156444, 156447–156449, 156451–156452, 156454–156455, 156459–156461, 156463–156466, 156468–156469, 156471–156472, 156475, 156479–156491, 156496 [16] [47] [48] [49] [50] [51] |
ScotRail | 42 | 156430–156437, 156439, 156442, 156445–156446, 156450, 156453, 156456–156458, 156462, 156467, 156474, 156476–156477, 156492–156495, 156499–156514[ citation needed ] | |||
Stored | 5 | 156470, 156473, 156478, 156497–156498 [52] [53] | |||
156/9 | Stored | 1 | 156907 [54] |
Some units have received names:
Operating company | Livery |
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Regional Railways | |
Arriva Trains Northern | |
Northern Rail | |
Arriva Rail North | |
Northern Trains | |
Greater Anglia | |
ONE | |
National Express | |
East Midlands Railway | |
First North Western |
Lima produced OO gauge models of Class 156 units, with sixteen variants available in total. [67] Some of these models were subsequently relaunched by Hornby Railways in 2006. [68]
Realtrack Models released their own OO-gauge Class 156 models in 2017, in Regional Railways Provincial, First ScotRail, and East Midlands Trains liveries. [69]
The British Rail Class 360 is an electric multiple unit class that was built by Siemens Mobility on its Desiro platform between 2002 and 2005 for First Great Eastern and Heathrow Connect. The remaining members of the class are operated by East Midlands Railway.
The British Rail Class 170 Turbostar is a British diesel-hydraulic multiple unit passenger train designed and built by Adtranz, and later by Bombardier Transportation, at Derby Litchurch Lane Works.
The British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) passenger train. It is a member of the Sprinter series of regional trains, produced as a replacement for British Rail's first generation of DMUs; of the other members, the Class 159 is almost identical to the Class 158, having been converted from Class 158 to Class 159 in two batches to operate express services from London Waterloo to the West of England.
The British Rail Class 153 Super Sprinter are single-coach diesel-hydraulic railcars which were converted from two-coach Class 155 diesel multiple units in the early 1990s. The class was intended for service on rural branch lines, either where passenger numbers do not justify longer trains or to boost the capacity on services with high passenger volume.
The British Rail Class 180 is a class of 14 diesel-hydraulic multiple unit passenger trains manufactured by Alstom at its Washwood Heath factory in 2000–01 for First Great Western (FGW). They are part of the Coradia 1000 family, along with the Class 175.
The British Rail Class 317 was an electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train constructed by British Rail Engineering Limited in two batches: 48 sets were produced in 1981–82 and 24 sets in 1985–87. They were the first of several classes of British Rail EMU to be based on the all-steel Mark 3 bodyshell, departing from the PEP-aluminium design which had spawned the earlier Class 313 to Class 315, Class 507 and Class 508. The Mark 3 bodyshell was also the basis of Class 318, Class 455 and the diesel Class 150. The Class 317 uses overhead alternating current electrification. All units were withdrawn in July 2022.
The British Rail Class 365 Networker Express was a class of dual-voltage electric multiple unit passenger train built by ABB at Holgate Road Carriage Works in 1994 and 1995.
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The British Rail Class 322 was a class of electric multiple unit passenger train built by British Rail Engineering Limited in 1990 for the Stansted Express service from London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport. After becoming surplus to requirements on this route, the fleet saw further use with a number of other operators.
The British Rail Class 150 Sprinter is a class of diesel-hydraulic multiple unit passenger trains, developed and built by British Rail Engineering Limited at York Carriage Works between 1984 and 1987 for use on regional services across Great Britain. The type is a second-generation design, built to more modern standards and based on BR's Mark 3 body design for longer-distance services. It was developed alongside the lower-cost Pacers, which were built using bus parts, for use on short-distance services. Two prototype units were built, followed by 135 production units in two batches. Subsequently, further members of the Sprinter family were developed and introduced to service, including the Class 155, Class 156, Class 158 and Class 159.
The British Rail Class 321 is a class of electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train built by British Rail Engineering Limited's York Carriage Works in three batches between 1988 and 1991 for Network SouthEast and Regional Railways. The class uses alternating current (AC) overhead electrification. The design was successful and led to the development of the similar Class 320 and Class 322.
The British Rail Class 315 is a fleet of alternating current (AC) electric multiple unit (EMU) trains that were built by British Rail Engineering Limited at Holgate Road Carriage Works in York between 1980 and 1981 to replace the Class 306 units. It was a variant of unit derived from British Rail's 1971 prototype suburban EMU design which, as the BREL 1972 family, eventually encompassed 755 vehicles across Classes 313, 314, 315, 507 and 508. Revenue services with Class 315 units commenced in 1980 and continued until December 2022.
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Abellio ScotRail, operating services under the name ScotRail, was the national train operating company of Scotland. A subsidiary of the Netherlands-based transport conglomerate Abellio, it operated the ScotRail franchise between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022.
West Midlands Trains (WMT) is a British train operating company. It operates passenger trains on the West Midlands franchise between London and the English Midlands under two trading names: within the West Midlands region as West Midlands Railway (WMR) and outside the region as London Northwestern Railway (LNR).
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