(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?

(09 Feb 2016, 8:59 am)Bus_User wrote It is information overload indeed and I still prefer the way of the guard telling us about the safety notices that most passengers don't even care about than the automated system blabbering on about such stuff.

Anyways just wondering, the new franchise says all existing stock(excluding the pacers and any units going off lease 323's for example) is planning on undergoing a refurbishment, I presume these DDA's improvements are just that and not an actual refurbishment?

(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

(11 Feb 2016, 8:35 am)Michael wrote Once again my Northern train from Sunderland to Newcastle is not a pacer...thank god!

Do not ask me what it is because i know nothing about trains...

(11 Feb 2016, 8:35 am)Michael wrote Once again my Northern train from Sunderland to Newcastle is not a pacer...thank god!

Do not ask me what it is because i know nothing about trains...

(11 Feb 2016, 4:27 pm)Michael wrote 16:30pm from Newcastle to Sunderland is a Pacer.... -.-

(11 Feb 2016, 4:30 pm)citaro5284 wrote Well I had to suffer one from Carlisle to Newcastle yesterday, so you can suffer one today

(15 Feb 2016, 12:48 pm)Andreos1 wrote http://m.northernrail.org/news/7842

Details of the offers and compensation available on the Tyne Valley Line.

(15 Feb 2016, 1:10 pm)Adrian wrote The compensation offer is piss poor really. It won't nearly cover it for most of the users.

(17 Feb 2016, 10:09 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote is it true when arriva take the franchise they will straight away replace class 142s

(17 Feb 2016, 10:09 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote is it true when arriva take the franchise they will straight away replace class 142s

(17 Feb 2016, 10:39 pm)Michael wrote I'm just glad the Pacers (142's?) will be finally withdrawn...  haha

I hate them so much.

(17 Feb 2016, 10:47 pm)S813 FVK wrote Yes, the pacers up here are 142s. 

Don't 143s and 144s also fall into the 'pacer' category? (completely irrelevant, i know).

(17 Feb 2016, 10:49 pm)Michael wrote Cheers, honestly i have no idea, i know nothing about trains.

I should though.

(17 Feb 2016, 10:47 pm)S813 FVK wrote Yes, the pacers up here are 142s. 

Don't 143s and 144s also fall into the 'pacer' category? (completely irrelevant, i know).

(17 Feb 2016, 10:57 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote I'm told 144 are to remain as they are DDA

(17 Feb 2016, 10:28 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote The 142s will be withdrawn in 2018/2019
The 144s and 153s are being returned to the lessor ( Porterbrook ) in 2017

A batch of Class 158s are transferring to Heaton in 2018/2019  Refurbished to " Northern Connect " Standard
Aswell as a batch of other units ( Either 156s or 150s )

(17 Feb 2016, 10:28 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote The 142s will be withdrawn in 2018/2019

The 144s and 153s are being returned to the lessor ( Porterbrook ) in 2017



A batch of Class 158s are transferring to Heaton in 2018/2019 Refurbished to " Northern Connect " Standard

Aswell as a batch of other units ( Either 156s or 150s )

(18 Feb 2016, 1:04 am)Bus_User wrote First I heard about the 144's being returned to the leasing company? Have you got a souce for this? As for the 153's, I have heard they might be leaving Northern in the near future but the main idea is for them to be converted back to 155's as the leasing company got no plans to make 153's DDA compliant. 

I'll be surprised if 144's are leaving Northern in 2017, there be no new trains until 2018 at least and they are already short on spare stock so I just can't see that happening, be uproar if that is the case. 

On the subject of pacers, I must be the only one to like them although I accept they are not up to standard for your everyday passenger. Will kinda miss them when they go.

(17 Feb 2016, 11:06 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Only the modified 144e Demonstrator normally found round Sheffield is PRM-TSI ( DDA for Trains )
But no more 144s are going to be modified and as such will be returned to the lessor in 2017

(18 Feb 2016, 1:04 am)Bus_User wrote First I heard about the 144's being returned to the leasing company? Have you got a souce for this? As for the 153's, I have heard they might be leaving Northern in the near future but the main idea is for them to be converted back to 155's as the leasing company got no plans to make 153's DDA compliant. 

I'll be surprised if 144's are leaving Northern in 2017, there be no new trains until 2018 at least and they are already short on spare stock so I just can't see that happening, be uproar if that is the case. 

On the subject of pacers, I must be the only one to like them although I accept they are not up to standard for your everyday passenger. Will kinda miss them when they go.

(18 Feb 2016, 7:28 am)DanPicken wrote I've also heard we're getting some 166 from Great Western and some 170 from Scotrail.

(18 Feb 2016, 11:24 am)Kuyoyo wrote No more 144 will be modified for Northern. That doesn't mean they won't be modified for anybody else. Don't forget that we aren't the only ones that have 142s that need replacing.