08.01.15
FTPE to retain four Class 170s – but five will still go to Chiltern
First TransPennine Express (FTPE) is to keep hold of four of its Chiltern Railways-bound Class 170s until February 2016, rather than losing all nine.
In what has been termed a ‘complex solution’ to maintain and increase rail capacity in the north, FTPE said it has worked hard with the DfT and Northern Rail to provide a solution to the loss of nine Class 170s, while protecting the current capacity levels.
The company’s Class 170s currently operate on services between Manchester and Hull, and Manchester and Cleethorpes, but from 17 May 2015 five will be leased to Chiltern Railways with FTPE retaining four of the current fleet, under an agreement with Porterbrook.
The retained 170s will continue to operate on services between Manchester, South Yorkshire and the Lincolnshire coast. However, FTPE added more of its services will be operated by three-car Class 185s rather than the current Class 170s – providing roughly the same level of capacity.
All services between Manchester, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Humberside, the Yorkshire Coast and the North East will be operated by Class 185 trains with either three or six carriages as opposed to some currently being operated with Class 170 trains.
For those travelling to Manchester and Hull (via Leeds), the operator says passengers “will experience no disadvantage from the loss of the Class 170s”.
“From May 2015 FTPE will no longer be operating Class 170 trains on the route. We have protected the timetable and the current capacity levels and all services will be operated by Class 185 trains with either three or six carriages,” said FTPE, adding: “Class 185s are reliable, safe and comfortable trains with 181 seats, a first class provision and two toilets on board.”
But whilst frequency will be maintained, FTPE will not be able to operate two direct services between Manchester Airport and Cleethorpes. Customers for the 15.55 between Manchester Airport and Cleethorpes and the 16.26 Cleethorpes to Manchester Airport will now need to change at Doncaster.
From May, some services between Manchester Airport and Blackpool North will be operated by four-car Class 156s, as opposed to three-car Class 185s. These will be branded as Northern Rail but will be operated by FTPE staff.
Additionally, FTPE will continue to operate electric four carriage trains between Manchester and Scotland through Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, FTPE currently supplements this service with the use of diesel three-car Class 185s. But the company said: “We are still assessing how services on this route will be affected from May 2015 but we will endeavour to provide a solution that accounts for fleet deployment but replicates current provision.”
Nick Donovan, managing director of FTPE, said: “A great deal of background work has been undertaken by ourselves, Northern Rail and the DfT that seeks to ensure capacity and frequency of FTPE services across our network is maintained for the timetable change in May 2015.
“I am delighted that we have been able to work together and develop a plan that aims to protect rail services for the huge majority of customers in the north of England and, indeed, deliver some additional capacity at a time when demand across our network is higher than ever.”
(Image: c. James Taylor)
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