Poll
Question:
Which do you prefer
Option 1: Class 153
Option 2: PPM
Quick question for everyone, which did (do) you prefer?
The class 153's that use to run or the PPM of today.
Poll going as well
Neither of the above. Much prefer a proper bubble car, or a 48xx/Autotrailer combo meself....
Quote from: bususer12 on May 09, 2014, 07:31:49 PM
Quick question for everyone, which did (do) you prefer?
The class 153's that use to run or the PPM of today.
Poll going as well
As somebody who knows very little about trains, what does PPM mean?
Quote from: Matt on May 09, 2014, 07:54:44 PM
Quote from: bususer12 on May 09, 2014, 07:31:49 PM
Quick question for everyone, which did (do) you prefer?
The class 153's that use to run or the PPM of today.
Poll going as well
As somebody who knows very little about trains, what does PPM mean?
Parry People Movers?
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parry_People_Movers
Quote from: bususer12 on May 09, 2014, 07:31:49 PM
Quick question for everyone, which did (do) you prefer?
The class 153's that use to run or the PPM of today.
Poll going as well
I don't mind either but if I had to chose one of them then I'd pick the 153 :)
Ahh, those things! They're quite uncomfortable and I think rather too small for the Stourbridge branch line
Anyone who knows me knows I love Sprinters. I'd happily take a 153 over a 139. I must stay the 139s are very unsufficient at peak times. There's two of them, so couldn't they be coupled together and used in service during busy times
Quote from: Sh4318 on May 09, 2014, 08:33:19 PM
Anyone who knows me knows I love Sprinters. I'd happily take a 153 over a 139. I must stay the 139s are very unsufficient at peak times. There's two of them, so couldn't they be coupled together and used in service during busy times
I heard on the radio the other day that the Stourbridge shuttle was out of use, and taxis were being provided as a replacement!
Quote from: Stu on May 09, 2014, 08:40:24 PM
Quote from: Sh4318 on May 09, 2014, 08:33:19 PM
Anyone who knows me knows I love Sprinters. I'd happily take a 153 over a 139. I must stay the 139s are very unsufficient at peak times. There's two of them, so couldn't they be coupled together and used in service during busy times
I heard on the radio the other day that the Stourbridge shuttle was out of use, and taxis were being provided as a replacement!
Me too, although I heard it was a replacement bus service
153 everytime, I find the 139s boring.
I actually like the original bubble cars, the ones in the early 55000 series, they were really good, was a shame when they were moved to Laira depot for the cornish branch line and replaced by 55026, 55032/3/4.
To me the PPM seems sufficient, shame to waste anything more substantial on such a short slow service. I did have ideas a while back to extend the metro (that doesn't seem is ever gonna happen now anyway) from Merry Hill to Stourbridge and onto the town branch. Probably would be shot down in flames for that suggestion though
Quote from: Kevin on June 07, 2014, 10:56:13 AM
To me the PPM seems sufficient, shame to waste anything more substantial on such a short slow service. I did have ideas a while back to extend the metro (that doesn't seem is ever gonna happen now anyway) from Merry Hill to Stourbridge and onto the town branch. Probably would be shot down in flames for that suggestion though
No very sensible. Other option I liked was to use a bigger PPM Stourbridge to Merry hill to link with the Metro
Aren't PPM supposed to be building some new larger vehicles for the branch?
I'd start a new topic since this one is pretty old, but I can't exactly justify starting a new one for exactly the same purpose.
Managed to go on the Stourbridge Branch Line for the first time in years today, the last time I used it was when it had a 153 running it. I've seen a fair bit of praise for the 139, and while it did the job and I'm sure is really efficient with the flywheel stuff, it seemed to just be a bus on wheels, a sorta mini pacer if you will. While I understand it doesn't need to have amazing levels of comfort for such short journeys, it was rather unpleasant, and the interior itself is looking a bit worn out nowadays compared to when it was new. I can't see this being changed or refurbished though until the new franchise is awarded.
Overall, it did the job of getting from the bus station to the main train station, which is what it's meant for. It's far from a pleasant experience though.
This was hard for me but I chose 153 as I remembered when train spotting at Stourbridge Junction seeing them for the first time they look like Fiat Multiples. whereas the 153 has character the 139 doesn't well apart from the Duck horn which cracks up every time I hear it, I like both of them but prefer the 153.
Being a four wheeled vehicle running on jointed track does not improve comfort either.
I visited this line this week even with the class 153 or the ppm the state of the track is nothing short of shocking
Would it be worth one day extending it to the Lower High Street and converting it to a tram line with passing loops?
Similar to the metro but on a smaller scale
Quote from: the trainbasher on October 14, 2017, 04:16:42 PM
Would it be worth one day extending it to the Lower High Street and converting it to a tram line with passing loops?
Similar to the metro but on a smaller scale
doubt it now a new bus station has been built also the different levels in the hight from lower high st to current track leval and the race track known as the ring road
If the Metro is ever finally built to Brierley Hill then it'd make sense to extend it further along that line to Stourbridge Junction and take over the Town branch
Quote from: Kevin on October 15, 2017, 01:48:29 PM
If the Metro is ever finally built to Brierley Hill then it'd make sense to extend it further along that line to Stourbridge Junction and take over the Town branch
ages ago there was talk about sending it down to Stourbridge with an option of sending onto kiddiminster depending on there council and government funding
I agree with the comments regarding extending the metro to Brierley Hill but having said that midland metro did say that line number 2 would be Wednesbury to merry hill via Dudley back in 1999 when line 1 was bulit and now what 18 years later we are still waiting i would also like to see extend to Stourbridge but i really cannot see that happening so only the next few years will tell if Brierley hill or merry hill will ever be reached
The current situation is as follows.
The Metro from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill should open in 2023. A Planning Application to build the Midland Metro through Dudley has been submitted to Dudley Council in the past week or so. Key in Planning Application Number P17/1451 at
https://www5.dudley.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/Wphappcriteria.display (https://www5.dudley.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/Wphappcriteria.display)
Abellio have said that, in the new franchise, they want to extend the half-hourly Stourbridge Junction terminators to Brierley Hill via a reversal at Stourbridge Junction from December 2019, with the services extended to an interchange station at Canal Street (Harts Hill) in 2023 to connect with the Metro. They haven't publically revealed where they propose to build Brierley Hill station though.
If these both go ahead, then the Metro will not be extended to Stourbridge using the old railway alignment from Moor Street as the trackbed between Stourbridge Junction and Round Oak will be shared by heavy freight on one track and heavy rail passenger services on the other. There will be one free track between Round Oak and Wednesbury which could possibly be used for heavy rail passenger or, more likely, tram-train in the future (probably after 2030).
One other point about the Town branch. As part of the new franchise agreement, West Midlands Rail and West Midlands Trains (i.e. Abellio) will undertake a review of the Town branch vehicles by March 2021 at the latest, looking at the condition of the town cars and capacity issues to determine whether replacement vehicles will be required before they become life expired in about 2026.
Thank you so much Roy regarding previous comments so 2023 should be open well sadly that is still 6 years away when i have said midland metro did say that line 2 would be from Wednesbury to Merry hill via dudley back in 1999 regarding i believe what you have said regarding Brierley hill if the metro would go thu there where would they route it as the only other line into Brierley hill at present is only a freight only line in and out of round oak unless like you say a possible share of tracks with a possible new track using heavy rail but only the coming years will tell at the moment it's all on paper only track clearence as taken place around Dudley so in a way a good thing