West Midlands Railway

[Sh4318]

Out of the blue the 323s appear to be getting refurbished and first one already completed and in service - 323217. Works include deep clean, accessible toilet, new moquette and fitting of internal destination screens.
https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/about-us/news-desk/range-improvements-are-being-made-trains-cross-city-line

To be honest, this makes me even more frustrated that they're going to Northern

[Cheese]

To be honest, this makes me even more frustrated that they're going to Northern

That's news to me considering Northern will be getting rid of theirs, why would they want any more!

[mikestone]

I don't know where this obsession with them going to Northern has come from - neither Cl.323 fleet has ever had any place in the plans of either  franchise. It was widely assumed under the previous operators Northern's would eventualy come to London Midland but I don't believe that was ever a firm plan 

[Tony]

Because there replacements won't be here before January they need these PSVAR mods, but as you say neither batch currently has a known use past 2021. I would imagine the owners will be touting them to all bidders tbough as they already have the UK wide safety case

[mikestone]

I think that boat sailed with the Cardiff Valleys tram-trains.

[Bob]

Sad the 150s are going. Caught one to uni stn today, and despite being older i still rate them much higher than a 170. The biggest difference is they dont stink ( 170 carpets are disgustingly filthy and the smell goes into the carriage eso if its warm on), and look much brighter inside. Seats are a lot softer too. Weirdly though it seemed a lot quieter than i remember. Certainly quieter than a 153

[Stuharris 6360]

Been announced by TFL that the class 172s on the Goblin line will cease operation on the 17th March 2019. From the 18th March, a temporary 1/2 hour timetable will be introduced whilst they await the 710s to become available for driver training.

So the rest of the 172s should start making there way, not doubt via works, to WMT.

[Roy]

172/0s have been out on Tyseley to Stratford test runs and 172 006 has been photographed at Stratford.  I understand that driver training is due to start from next Monday.  Two round trips are booked on Realtime Trains -
5T72 1006 Tyseley LMD - Stratford, 5T73 1052 Stratford - Tyseley
5T74 1145 Tyseley LMD - Stratford, 5T75 1250 Stratford - Tyseley

[mikestone]

Builders have issued a press release stating that the cl.230 order is complete - are they all at Bletchley?

[Tony]

I believe so, start date still expected to be 8th April

[Sh4318]

172/0s have been out on Tyseley to Stratford test runs and 172 006 has been photographed at Stratford.  I understand that driver training is due to start from next Monday.  Two round trips are booked on Realtime Trains -
5T72 1006 Tyseley LMD - Stratford, 5T73 1052 Stratford - Tyseley
5T74 1145 Tyseley LMD - Stratford, 5T75 1250 Stratford - Tyseley

Has a start date for passenger service been approximated yet? Sorry if already mentioned.

Sad the 150s are going. Caught one to uni stn today, and despite being older i still rate them much higher than a 170. The biggest difference is they dont stink ( 170 carpets are disgustingly filthy and the smell goes into the carriage eso if its warm on), and look much brighter inside. Seats are a lot softer too. Weirdly though it seemed a lot quieter than i remember. Certainly quieter than a 153

They'll be missed, along with the 153s. I have to say, Northern and Scotrail's 170s put WMRs to shame

[Bob]

Has a start date for passenger service been approximated yet? Sorry if already mentioned.

They'll be missed, along with the 153s. I have to say, Northern and Scotrail's 170s put WMRs to shame

Im not sure ill miss the 153s as much. The ones that didnt get the refresh are in a bit of a state and the legroom is pretty poor unless you get a table seat. Much prefer 150s, way way better suited to the Chase Line than 170s

[Roy]

Has a start date for passenger service been approximated yet? Sorry if already mentioned.

Officially it is the start of the new timetable on 19 May.

[Tony]

Chase line overheads are now permanently live. A test run for both a class 350 and a 323 is being planned before May, so 323s can cover if a 350 is not available.

The test runs won't happen though until Landywood up platform extension is completed so that clearances can be measured

[Bob]

Chase line overheads are now permanently live. A test run for both a class 350 and a 323 is being planned before May, so 323s can cover if a 350 is not available.

The test runs won't happen though until Landywood up platform extension is completed so that clearances can be measured

Would it be unlikely that 323s would be used?