[Archive] Northern (Arriva Rail North)

[SK15 GZG (Moderator)]

RE: Arriva Rail North

(11/12/2015 23:49)T42 PVM Wrote:  Was reading that article before, Is it known when Great Western and Scot Rail will be able to release these Trains (assuming their 150s and 156s)

It's widely assumed that the stock will be Class 150/0, 150/1 and 150/9 stock from Great Western Railway and Class 156, 158 and 170/4 stock from ScotRail although there doesn't seem to be anything confirmed at the moment - but considering the DMU order I really wouldn't be surprised if the ScotRail 170/4s went somewhere else. I'm sure that we'll get some confirmation on which units are coming from where in the not too distant future though

As for when they're released that will largely depend on when GWML electrification is completed (currently scheduled for 2017) - and enough of the Class 800 and Class 801 IEP units have entered service to release enough Class 43 HSTs (albeit with a reduced number of carriages) to ScotRail. This will allow stock to be cascaded to Arriva Rail North. There's electrification projects going on in Scotland at the moment as well which when completed will also release DMU stock

I think the arrival of Sprinters from GWR will depend on when the Class 365 (from TSGN) and the brand new Class 387 units for Thames Valley services have all entered service - which will in turn enable some of the Class 165 and 166 units to move west and release the previously mentioned Sprinter stock for onward transfer to Arriva Rail North