(24 Jan 2016, 6:37 pm)Jimmi wrote I spotted two in November/December on normal weekday workings in the form of 156479 and 156484.
https://flic.kr/p/ANspfG
https://flic.kr/p/A9vK95

(10 Dec 2015, 9:42 am)Michael wrote I think they are.

I'm glad Arriva Northern are giving us better services.... the Metrocentre is well served though....... 


Sunderland station needs doing - would be good for Arriva Northern to install toilets etc, hopefully when the station gets done (near Burger King etc), these will be installed....

(10 Dec 2015, 11:42 am)Michael wrote Hahaha, Burger King has toilets but i'm not sure the public can use them and tbh i have no idea where they would go in the station.

Ye, when we see that revamp, its being going on for years.... lol

(24 Jan 2016, 6:38 pm)tyresmoke wrote As seen here at Stockton - very rare up this way! Albeit to become regular over the next few years


Northern Rail 158787 by Scott Cooper, on Flickr

(25 Jan 2016, 12:58 am)Diamond One wrote anyways back on topic do you think it should extend a little to beyond Middlesbrough and only get as far as Manchester?

(20 Dec 2015, 12:49 pm)8222 wrote Hope this guy was OK.

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/patient-airlifted-to-hospital-with-serious-injuries-after-being-struck-by-train-in-seaham-1-7634756

(25 Jan 2016, 8:08 am)LeeCalder wrote Why? They would be running in direct competition with First TransPennine Express who already offer a service from Middlesbrough to Manchester Airport/Piccadilly/Victoria.

(25 Jan 2016, 8:49 am)Andreos1 wrote Wasn't privatisation of the railways supposed to offer competition?

(25 Jan 2016, 12:58 am)Diamond One wrote would love to ride these do you think some will go from Carlisle and possibly further beyond Middlesbrough has happened before in the past i once got a train from Manchester to Middlesbrough to Heworth years ago back in 2004 then i remember getting home to an episode of Shameless it's the one where Frank Gallagher fakes his own death to get rid of bailiffs and ended up blowing the house in series 1 

anyways back on topic do you think it should extend a little to beyond Middlesbrough and only get as far as Manchester?

(25 Jan 2016, 8:50 am)MrFozz wrote I thought Privatisation was about conpetition [SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

(25 Jan 2016, 9:17 am)Andreos1 wrote That was 'the plan' apparently!

You only need to look and see how little choice there is for us passengers, out there on the railways.

The majority of the competition only ever happens at tendering time unfortunately.

(25 Jan 2016, 8:08 am)LeeCalder wrote Why? They would be running in direct competition with First TransPennine Express who already offer a service from Middlesbrough to Manchester Airport/Piccadilly/Victoria.

(25 Jan 2016, 8:50 am)tyresmoke wrote Yes 158s are planned to operate Carlisle-Middlesbrough services from 2019 under the Northern Connect (long distance business links) brand. You can ride them any time in and around Yorkshire

(25 Jan 2016, 10:27 am)Diamond One wrote It has happened before under the Norther Spirit Trans Pennine Express in the past went on one once with my mam when I was little to Manchester for the day
At least it will be no more pacers some say the pacers will end up scrapped while some say they will be sold out of the country I once read a report the pacers before the ones we have now some are with Weardale railway others with Iran

(25 Jan 2016, 10:26 am)MrFozz wrote As I dont use the railways much, where is the Competition in this Area...

Northern seem to pretty much dominate local runs with FTPE having a look in between Middlesbrough and York, Grand Central down to Northallerton, VTEC, XC and FTPE down the ECML and the odd ScotRail service through the Tyne Valley with VTEC and XC going North of Toon with Northern as well...

I have always said someone should come up with a proposal for passenger traffic Leamside and Stillington Lines to try and attract more competition for Tyne-Tees Runs and maybe medium haul regional services

(25 Jan 2016, 10:57 am)Andreos1 wrote Apart from the ECML between York and Newcastle, there is very little competition.
North of Newcastle, VTEC and XC share the load.
With TPX getting an extension, I suppose you could argue there will be some competition up there in the future.

The Scotrail service along the Tyne Valley is just an extension of the Northern services and isn't really competition.

You could argue GC compete with Northern on the Durham Coast line.

Mind, when GC applied for their open-access routing, NX or GNER (can't remember who had it at the time), argued that the competition would down the ECML would harm their business.

However, when you look at who owns these toc's, there isn't much competition at all.
Northern (soon to be), XC and GC are all owned by Arriva/DB.
Obviously you have the Metro, which competes with Northern on the Newcastle - Sunderland line, which is operated by Arriva's parent company.
VTEC is Stagecoach/Virgin.
TPEX is First.

So despite there being some slight competition in some areas, 66% of the rail network in the NE will be Arriva/DB owned/operated from April onwards.

(25 Jan 2016, 8:08 am)LeeCalder wrote Why? They would be running in direct competition with First TransPennine Express who already offer a service from Middlesbrough to Manchester Airport/Piccadilly/Victoria.

(25 Jan 2016, 10:57 am)Andreos1 wrote Apart from the ECML between York and Newcastle, there is very little competition.
North of Newcastle, VTEC and XC share the load.
With TPX getting an extension, I suppose you could argue there will be some competition up there in the future.

The Scotrail service along the Tyne Valley is just an extension of the Northern services and isn't really competition.

You could argue GC compete with Northern on the Durham Coast line.

Mind, when GC applied for their open-access routing, NX or GNER (can't remember who had it at the time), argued that the competition would down the ECML would harm their business.

However, when you look at who owns these toc's, there isn't much competition at all.
Northern (soon to be), XC and GC are all owned by Arriva/DB.
Obviously you have the Metro, which competes with Northern on the Newcastle - Sunderland line, which is operated by Arriva's parent company.
VTEC is Stagecoach/Virgin.
TPEX is First.

So despite there being some slight competition in some areas, 66% of the rail network in the NE will be Arriva/DB owned/operated from April onwards.

(25 Jan 2016, 4:59 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Though competition is one of the things about Privatisation, Train Paths on Very busy routes can affect how many operators can operate services with Network Rail and the DFT having the power to Truncate services at for example Derby instead of Sheffield.

In the Network Rail ECML RUS Document, It suggests that to get 3x VTEC and 2x TPE on the ECML by 2019, Would require the loss of the Plymouth XC Service between Leeds and Newcastle leaving only 1x Crosscountry service a hour between York and Newcastle ( The Reading Service ) Though if the remaining Freight Path between Northallerton and Newcastle is Compromised, Then the Plymouth XC  can still run to Newcastle though will make XC loose competition  ( Albeit both will HAVE to terminate at Central Station see below )

On the section between Newcastle and Edinburgh, By 2019 2x VTEC a Hour, 1x TPE and 1x Local or Semi Fast Path ( Proposed Scotrail Service ) a 1x class 4 or 6 Freight Path and the 1x Northern Morpeth Service can be accommodated
XC are not allowed to run through to Edinburgh and beyond by 2019 to make way for 2x VTEC and 1x TPE, XC will loose all competition on this Section.

And with 3x VTEC and 2x TPE confirmed between Newcastle and York, 1x XC will have to be lost from this section.

Be expected to hear this in the news in the next few years.

EDIT : on both sections 1x Open Access path is also included

(03 Feb 2016, 3:50 pm)Andreos1 wrote 156454 is out on the Darlington - Saltburn line again.
There may be another.

(05 Feb 2016, 4:24 pm)Jimmi wrote 156463 was on today. Complete with electronic destination screens.
Northern Rail: 156463 by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

(05 Feb 2016, 5:33 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote The LED Destination Screens are being fitted to all Heaton 156s as part of there PRM-TSI Modifications ( DDA for trains ) aswell as a accessible Toilet, Door Release alarms, Passenger Info Screens -
New Carpets, and Accessible Handrails.

Whilst the Tyne Valley is shut between Riding Mill and Hexham, The 156s allocated to Tyne Valley Diagrams will be used on other diagrams instead of 142s and so the 156s everyones seen the past few weeks is because of the Tyne Valley being cut in half and is not counted as rare

(05 Feb 2016, 5:33 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote The LED Destination Screens are being fitted to all Heaton 156s as part of there PRM-TSI Modifications ( DDA for trains ) aswell as a accessible Toilet, Door Release alarms, Passenger Info Screens -
New Carpets, and Accessible Handrails.

Whilst the Tyne Valley is shut between Riding Mill and Hexham, The 156s allocated to Tyne Valley Diagrams will be used on other diagrams instead of 142s and so the 156s everyones seen the past few weeks is because of the Tyne Valley being cut in half and is not counted as rare

(08 Feb 2016, 12:43 am)Bus_User wrote I can definately confirm the former is not the case as the carpets are the same as when Northern's refresh programme took place whilst from my experiences, I have not seen any new accessible handrails. 

Got to say the text on the LED blinds are too small, whilst they are an improvment on the current roller blinds(which often are too hard too see cos of dirt covering the screen), I feel they could be better and should be more like ScotRails are, bold and clear and be able to scroll so having a destination of "Newcastle Cent"(which does not even fully fit) does not look right too me. Dread too think what they put for Middlesbrough for example!

(08 Feb 2016, 12:43 am)Bus_User wrote I can definately confirm the former is not the case as the carpets are the same as when Northern's refresh programme took place whilst from my experiences, I have not seen any new accessible handrails. 

Got to say the text on the LED blinds are too small, whilst they are an improvment on the current roller blinds(which often are too hard too see cos of dirt covering the screen), I feel they could be better and should be more like ScotRails are, bold and clear and be able to scroll so having a destination of "Newcastle Cent"(which does not even fully fit) does not look right too me. Dread too think what they put for Middlesbrough for example!

(05 Feb 2016, 4:24 pm)Jimmi wrote 156463 was on today. Complete with electronic destination screens.
Northern Rail: 156463 by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

(08 Feb 2016, 4:56 pm)MrFozz wrote Loving your pics Jimmster...

Your getting good at this photography lark [GRINNING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

(08 Feb 2016, 8:52 pm)ted320 wrote As a regular user of the Durham Coast Line, I have to say the new automated announcements on the 156's are awful!  Its information overload, especially when there are only a few minutes between stops.  Are the automated announcements a DDA requirement too?