British Rail Class 156

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British Rail Class 156 "Super-Sprinter"
Class 156419 at Sudbury newly repainted into the National Express East Anglia livery with a service to Marks Tey
In service	1987 - present
Manufacturer	Metro-Cammell
Family name	Sprinter
Number built	1987 - 1989
Formation	2 car
Operator	East Midlands Trains First ScotRail National Express East Anglia Northern Rail
Specifications
Maximum speed	75mph
Engine	Cummins NT855-R5
Gauge	1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)
Safety systems	AWS, TPWS

National Express East Anglia (then 'one') 156409 at Norwich on the 15th December 2007

The British Rail Class 156 "Super-Sprinter" is a diesel multiple unit. 114 of these units were built from 1987-89 by Metro-Cammell (now owned by Alstom) at their Washwood Heath Works in Birmingham. They were built to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs and locomotive-hauled passenger trains.

[edit] Description

These units were all built as two-car sets, numbered 156401-514. Each unit was formed of two driving motors, one of which contained a toilet. Individual carriages numbered as follows:

• 52401-52514 - DMSL
• 57401-57514 - DMS

The vehicles are based on the Mark 3 bodyshell, and are powered by 6-cylinder Cummins NT855-R5 diesel engine through Voith automatic transmissions. Unlike the class 150s, the 156s have a single leaf sliding door at either end of each coach - this feature reflected the anticipated longer journeys (with fewer stops) that the Class 156 was supposed to operate. They have a top speed of 75mph, although in practice speeds of around 85mph have been observed on level track, though not in regular service.

The first 100 units were all ordered by the Provincial sector of British Rail, and therefore carried Provincial livery. Twenty units, nos. 156401-419/422, all based at Tyseley depot, were later repainted into Express Regional Railways livery.

The last fourteen units, nos. 156501-514 were ordered by Strathclyde PTE, and carried a distinctive orange black livery. This was later replaced by an attractive carmine and cream livery, reminiscent of the 1950s livery carried by Mk.1 coaching stock.

In the summer of 1989, in connection with celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the Dutch Railways, BR was invited to send a representative example of their most modern train to be exhibited at Utrecht for two weeks in the summer. Class 156 unit number 156 502 from Glasgow was finally selected - unusual as it was in the Strathclyde Passenger Executive (SPE) livery of orange and black. On 16th June 1989, the unit was driven under its own power from the Railway Technical Centre by a Derby train crew all the way to Holland. In those far off days the Channel Tunnel was just a dream so the SNCF train ferry was utilised to cross from Dover Western Docks to Dunkerque from where the unit was driven through France and Belgium to the Dutch border at Essen and on to Utrecht with help from SNCF, SNCB and NS train crews. The unit was exhibited along with various items of rolling stock from across Europe for around two weeks after which it returned to the UK.

[edit] Current operations

After privatisation, the Class 156 fleet was split between several franchises, which are described below.

[edit] East Midlands Trains

East Midlands Trains is now putting their livery on 156s, seen here on 15th April 2008

East Midlands Trains has a fleet 11 units, based across the network. These units were transferred from Central Trains. These units are used on slower medium-distance trains. The fleet is used on a services such as Nottingham to Skegness, Leicester to Lincoln, Nottingham to Worksop or Nottingham to Matlock(Sunday Service). However, recently they have been seen working the 5 hour semi-fast journey between Liverpool and Norwich

The fleet is currently being refurbished by East Midlands Trains at Derby Works.

[edit] First ScotRail

First ScotRail operates the largest fleet of Class 156 units. They operate on both short distance commuter routes and services of up to five hours & 30 mins (Glasgow to Fort william & Mallaig). Their initial introduction was controversial as they replaced locomotive hauled stock (particularly Class 37 hauled) on these longer routes. Various issues such as limited toilet facilities were cited as criticism, but they proved to have much lower operating costs. They currently can be seen on many core routes including:

• Glasgow to Stranraer / Carlisle via Kilmarnock
• Glasgow to Oban and Mallaig

Class 156, no. 156457 at Oban on 25th June 2005. This unit is painted in ScotRail livery, but with First Group branding. Unit 156450 was the last Class 156 to carry the National Express Scotrail livery but in December 2006 it was repainted and refurbished and returned to service in full First Group "barbie" livery in early 2007.

• Glasgow Central to Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts, Cambuslang and Bellshill.

They are also used on Glasgow local services. These services are worked by units nos. 156500-514, which are operated by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and painted in their carmine and cream livery. These units in particular are often seen working through to Newcastle on two services per day (from Girvan and Stranraer) as these services are jointly operated by First ScotRail and Northern Rail.

• Glasgow to Paisley Canal
• Glasgow to Whifflet
• Glasgow to Anniesland via Maryhill
• Glasgow to East Kilbride

In reality, both fleets are entirely interchangeable (except only RETB fitted units can operate the West Highland Line) and both liveries can be seen on any 156 route.

Class 156s also operate out of Glasgow Queen Street to Stirling, Dunblane, Cumbernauld and Falkirk. These services are worked by both First Scotrail and SPT liveried Units. 156s are also often seen working out of Edinburgh Waverley to West Calder, Newcraighall, Bathgate, Dunblane, Perth, Kirkaldy and Fife Circle services, again both liveries can be seen.

156450, in Regional Railways Scotrail livery, was bought by Tickford and was refurbished with 4 different seating arrangements.

[edit] National Express East Anglia

'one' operated Class 156

In early 2005, 'one' started to receive several former Central Trains Class 156 units, which were exchanged for Class 150 units. The newer Class 156 units are more suitable for several of the longer-distance routes, and also provide extra passenger accommodation and to compliment class 153 units. The units will be used on Norwich-Cromer-Sheringham, Norwich-Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft, Ipswich-Lowestoft/Felixstowe, Marks Tey-Sudbury local services, as well as longer distance Norwich-Cambridge and Ipswich-Cambridge/Peterborough services.

The first units to be transferred to `one`/National Express East Anglia had already been refurbished and were therefore painted in either Central Trains's green livery or white undercoat. However, the later units were repainted into the distinctive 'one' "rainbow" livery as they passed through works for refurbishment. National Express East Anglia now have a fleet of nine 156s, one train (156419) is in the new National Express East Anglia livery, two are in Central Livery, five in 'one' Livery and the unique 156402 currently in White with blue Chapelfield advertising livery. The first unit to be transferred to Norwich was white 156402 in return for 150235.

[edit] Northern Rail

Class 156, no. 156451 at Lancaster on 1st April 2005. This unit carries the first version of Northern Rail livery, which was used for the launch of the franchise in December 2004.

Northern Rail’s 156s have two different interiors: one is dark blue with seating common to 156s (former First North Western units), another is green with seating similar to that found on many 158s (former Arriva Trains Northern units.) The former Arriva Trains Northern units appear to have more comfortable seating. However, the seating is unpopular with taller people as there is less leg room and the seats were designed to be comfortable, but can be very uncomfortable for people who are not of an average height. On the former First North Western units the seating is in good condition, although the carpets are in a very poor state. Since Northern Rail have taken over, former Arriva Trains Northern trains can be found on former First North Western routes and vice versa. A number of former Arriva Trains Northern 156s were transferred to the North West to replace some overcrowded 142s in the Merseyside area. However, this was only after 20+ extra 158s had been introduced in Yorkshire (former Arriva Trains Northern area.)

Northern Rail has so far introduced three new liveries. The first, carried by no. 156451 is mainly purple (mauve), but with white bands. The second livery, as carried by nos. 156425/460/464 is the inverse of the first livery. The final livery, first applied to no. 156461, is similar to the second livery, but the white is replaced by blue. There have also been several units with vinyls applied showing images of the Northern region - one of Eskdale, Cumbria, showing the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway (156461); one of various destinations on the Settle and Carlisle Railway (156484); another advertising the Sheffield-Leeds FAST service (156469), which has now been removed; one marketing the Tyne Valley Line and Hadrian's Wall (156448) and another celebrating 40 years since the end of steam on British Railways and the National Railway Museum's "1968 and all that" event (156490).

[edit] Former operations

[edit] Central Trains

156410 at Nottingham on 24th September 2003, with a service to Worcester. This unit had just been repainted into Central Trains livery after refurbishment at Doncaster works.

Central Trains had a fleet of 11 units, based across the network. Central Trains quickly repainted its fleet from the original Provincial livery, to its own green and yellow livery, these units are used on faster long-distance trains. The fleet was used on a wide variety of services including Birmingham to Nottingham via Derby or Leicester, Birmingham to Hereford, Birmingham to Shrewsbury and Nottingham to Skegness or Lincoln.

At one time Central Trains had a larger fleet of 156s, but some of these were replaced with newer trains and the 156s went to First North Western. These are now operated by Northern Rail, although some of the Central Trains’ passenger notices have still not been removed.

In 2003, Central Trains proposed to swap its Class 156 fleet with ScotRail Class 158 units, which would be better suited to longer distance trains. However, this deal fell through, although one unit, no. 156402, was repainted in ScotRail livery without brandings. Since then, Central Trains have refurbished their fleet at Doncaster Works.

In early 2005, a number of Central Trains Class 156 units were transferred to 'one' Anglia, in exchange for Class 150 units.

All units were transferred to East Midlands Trains after the Central franchise ended.

[edit] Fleet details

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

British Rail Class 156

• Metro-Cammell class 156 Super-Sprinter - Information about current and past Class 156 operation, including technical details, livieries and accident reports.
• The story in pictures of 156502's visit to Holland
• British Photo Database - Class 156 Super-Sprinter