Northern (Arriva Rail North)
Northern (Arriva Rail North)
I was on 156454 yesterday which is the first Class 156unit which recieved some new DDA Modifications including a new DDA toilet, interior Passenger information screens/announcements, electronic destination blinds and new door release sounders.
In terms of the passenger information announcements, I do feel there is a little bit too much information on them for me personally and if your on a frequent stopper service, they could be quite grating but apart from that, they seem fine too me.
The electronic blinds, I'm not too keen on the font, it seems a little too small but I only saw one destination which is "Newcastle Cent" so it might of been small because of that. Unlike the Scotrails 156, the destination was not scrolling. Also I'm not sure why Northern feels it has to put "Newcastle Cent" on, looks a bit unprofessional, they should either make the blind so it scrolls along or just have "Newcastle" on. It be interesting too see how Middlesbrough has been programmed, whether its scrolled along or squished on.
The DDA toilet is quite impressive and quite a vast improvment to say the least, very modern and easy too use also. The new door release sounders are 5 beeps(perhaps a few too many beeps I feel) and the door button on the exterior has also been changed.
Just to note, interior wise, excluding some differences around the new DDA Toilet, the interior remains unchanged.
I'm assuming this unit will be done as a trial but will Northern give this treatment to other 156's or will it be down to the next franchise? If its down to the next franchise, they have got quite a alot of work to do before the 2020 deadline(unless they can get an extension) with 144's(potentially) 150's, conversions of 153's to 155 and then upgrading the 156's and I think the 158's need doing also. Not only that but i believe the new franchise will also have to completely refurbished all these carriages also.
I'm not quite sure what the situation will be with Northern's electric fleet though.
