(01 Aug 2015, 7:48 pm)northern156 wrote One of the main reasons there's so many on the services (especially on Saturdays/ School Holidays) is because they're an enthusiast magnet - ie people who wouldn't necessarily travel on them regularly.
One of the main reasons the DfT wanted them in (apart from the stock cascades) was for the Sellafield workers; the sets cope fine with the amount of people who get on (2C41 northbound, 2C34 southbound).
Additionally the number of times you see a one-car 153 working a Carlisle - Barrow (and beyond) is minimal now. Mostly 156 as a minimum with one working a 142.
Sorry, I'm not really familiar with these workings. There was a 153 on today.