The British Rail Class 153 Super Sprinter are single-coach diesel-hydraulicrailcars which were converted from two-coach Class 155diesel multiple units in the early 1990s. The class was intended for service on rural branch lines, either where passenger numbers do not justify longer trains or to boost the capacity on services with high passenger volume.
Description
In 1987 and 1988, Regional Railways took delivery of 35 two-coach Class 155 units, built by Leyland Bus at its Workington factory, to replace older DMUs.[10] After the Class 155s entered service, a further requirement emerged for the replacement of ageing railcars on rural lines, mostly of Class 121 and Class 122. British Rail decided to meet this need by dividing each unit in the Regional Railways Class 155 fleet into two separate railcars that could then be converted for use independently, which would create a fleet of 70 vehicles.[11] The seven further Class 155 units that had been delivered to the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (WYPTE) in 1989 were not included in this plan.[12][13]
In 1990, British Rail awarded a contract for the work to Hunslet-Barclay and it was undertaken at the firm's Kilmarnock plant in 1991 and 1992.[11][14][15][16] The Class 155 units had been numbered from 155301 to 155335 and consisted of DMSL(A) vehicles 52301 to 52335 and DMSL(B) vehicles 57301 to 57335. After separation, the DMSL(A) vehicles were given new unit numbers from 153301 to 153335, while the DMSL(B) vehicles were renumbered 57351 to 57385 (incrementing each by 50) and given matching 'unit' numbers from 153351 to 153385.
The conversion involved retrofitting a driver's cab into the spaces previously used for luggage racks at the "inside" end (B-end) of each vehicle, where each vehicle had previously been coupled back-to-back with its matching opposite in a Class 155 formation.[2][15] This new cab is notably smaller than the original one at the A-end, as the positions of the exterior doors were not changed during the conversion, and it was necessary to reduce the size of the vestibule slightly in order to provide enough space for the driver.[17] The difference in cab sizes is visible from the outside of the vehicle, which appears unsymmetrical when viewed from the sides. The arrangement of headlights on the new cab end is also different to that on the original cab end.
They are fitted with BSI automatic couplers and are able to work in tandem with other multiple units with BSI couplers and compatible coupler electrical wiring; these are Classes 142, 143, 144, 150, 155, 156, 158, 159, 170 and 172.[11]Gangway connections are provided at either end to allow passengers and staff to walk between units working in multiple, in-class as well as 150/2, 155, 156, 158 and 159. The maximum speed of 75 mph (121 km/h) was unchanged.
Following a timetable change in December 2006, Arriva Trains Wales had lost three of its then-11 Class 153 units, leaving it with eight.[18] Two were transferred to East Midlands Trains with the other going to First Great Western. In October 2018 all eight passed with the franchise to Transport for Wales (KeolisAmey Wales), who acquired a further five from Great Western Railway in April 2019, five from Abellio Greater Anglia in December 2019, four from East Midlands Railway in January 2020 and another two from EMR in November 2020, which brought the total number up to 24 until a further two units were acquired.[19][20]
In 2019 and 2020, five former GWR 153s moved from Northern to Abellio ScotRail for use on West Highland Line services between Glasgow and Oban, in conjunction with ScotRail's existing Class 156 fleet.[24][25][26] The first refurbished carriage was unveiled in late 2020.[27] The first unit began service on 19 July 2021.[28]
The trains have also been refurbished inside providing free Wi-Fi, plug and USB sockets, and maps of the West Highland Line on the tables. ScotRail describe the service offering as Highland Explorer and charge a £10 upgrade fee for passengers using it.[29] Due to a local agreement with driver's union ASLEF, ScotRail's Class 153s can only be driven from the A-end cab – the B-end cab being considered too cramped for long-distance driving.[citation needed]
Network Rail
In May 2021, Network Rail purchased three units (153311, 153376, and 153385) for use on infrastructure monitoring services.[30][31]
Former operations
Regional Railways
Regional Railways operated Class 153s on many branch lines throughout the Midlands, Wales and Northern England, both individually and with other classes of Sprinter unit. They were initially allocated to Heaton (15), Cardiff Canton (9), Plymouth Laira (10), Crown Point (16) and Tyseley (20).[11] Class 153s were often found working services from;
First Great Western took over the Wessex Trains fleet upon the merger of the two franchises. Wessex Trains had, in turn, inherited its fleet of 13 units from its predecessor Wales & West.
In mid-2004, Wessex Trains received a further two units from Central Trains to allow it to lengthen some services.
Following the introduction of a new timetable in December 2006, four units were taken off lease and stored at Eastleigh Works. After a period in storage these four units were pressed into service with East Midlands Trains.
In December 2007, First Great Western received an additional Class 153 from Arriva Trains Wales, bringing its total to 12. This unit arrived in the blue with gold star livery of former operator First North Western.
For summer 2011, two London Midland Class 153s were allocated to the South West for strengthening purposes, based at Exeter TMD for the duration. This allocation was eventually made permanent as a result of London Midland keeping three Class 150 units after the new Class 172s entered service. This brought First Great Western's number of Class 153 units up to 14.
Nine of those 14 units later left the fleet, with the remaining five moving to Transport for Wales in April 2019 after being displaced by internal cascading.[19]
In 2004, Anglia Railways became part of the Greater Anglia franchise operated by One which was subsequently renamed National Express East Anglia. Two units left the franchise to East Midlands Trains. During 2012, Porterbrook began refurbishing the body and interiors and repainting them in base white with red doors and Greater Anglia logos.
In 2014, a rolling refurbishment of Abellio Greater Anglia's Class 153s commenced, which included new interior panels, tables, carpets and lighting. All were replaced by Class 755s in late 2019.[33][34] These then moved to Transport for Wales in December 2019 to cover for delays with its new rolling stock.[20]
All eight were inherited from Central Trains in their livery. All were repainted into London Midland city lines livery upon refurbishment at Eastleigh Works. The Class 153s that were used on the Stourbridge Town branch line have been replaced by new built lightweight Class 139 railcars. This was due to take place in December 2008, but the delivery of the new units was delayed, and after several months of bustitution London Midland reintroduced diesel services from 15 March pending the completion of Class 139 testing. The Class 139 received passenger certification from Network Rail in March 2009[35] and the service finally began three months later.[36] In December 2020 the final Class 153s were withdrawn from service and put into long-term storage.[37] Before withdrawal, they mostly operated on the Birmingham-Hereford line.
All of the East Midlands Trains Class 153 units were repainted into the company's local lines livery.
In July 2010, the first unit 153319 entered Neville Hill TMD for a C6 refresh programme. The work included corrosion repair, internal refresh and a cab refurbishment programme.[39]
East Midlands Railway's fleet of Class 153s were used on rural routes:
The Northern Rail franchise started operations in December 2004. It inherited the fleets previously operated by Arriva Trains Northern (ATN) and First North Western (FNW), whose routes the new franchise incorporated. Northern Rail's successor Arriva Rail North at one point operated the largest fleet of Class 153 units.
Northern Rail inherited a fleet of eight units from FNW, which were used on local services around Manchester and Chester and on Lancaster and Barrow-in-Furness to Carlisle and Preston to Ormskirk services. The fleet was repainted in the now obsolete North Western Trains blue and gold livery. Prior to becoming part of Northern Rail, four former FNW units were transferred to the Arriva Trains Wales franchise, since the lines operated by FNW in Wales were transferred to this new company.
A larger fleet of 12 units was inherited from ATN. They are used on various local services around Leeds, Doncaster and Sheffield. One regular job is the Cleethorpes to Barton-on-Humber services, which see a unit stabled at Cleethorpes overnight and Sunday. Other jobs are the Lincoln to Scunthorpe via Retford and Sheffield, and the Saturday-only Sheffield to Cleethorpes via Retford.
In December 2007, two units were taken off lease from Northern Rail and transferred to East Midlands Trains.
In the first half of 2018, five units were transferred from Great Western Railway on a temporary basis to boost capacity until the new Class 195 units entered service; three of these then moved to Abellio ScotRail in 2019, with the remainder following in 2020. On 1 March 2020, Arriva Rail North's Class 153 units transferred to new operator Northern Trains.
All Northern Trains Class 153s were sent to storage at Ely Potter Papworth Terminal by December 2021.[42]
When the units were first introduced, Hurst models produced a detailing kit to convert a Dapol model of a 155 into a 153.[64]
The Class 153 has been produced in OO gauge by Hornby in Central Trains, First North Western, Abellio Greater Anglia, Northern Rail, Regional Railways, East Midlands Trains, London Midland City, Arriva Trains Wales, and Great Scenic Railways of Devon and Cornwall (Wessex Trains) liveries. These models have been praised for their detail.[65]
Dapol announced a British N gauge model of the Class 153 in October 2008. The model debuted at the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition in November 2009.[66][67] In 2010, Dapol issued their model in St Ives Bay Line advertising livery.[68]
Several 153s have also been produced for rail simulators. Making Tracks have a digital model available for the PC railway simulator Microsoft Train Simulator,[69] whilst Just Trains has released the model for Railworks.
Notes
^In addition to accommodations for persons with reduced mobility, the PRM-TSI also mandates provisions for people with sensory impairments. It supplants the existing Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations.
^Clinnick, Richard (February 2023). "A grand plan for Scotland's railways". Rail Express. No. 321. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. p. 76. ISSN1362-234X.
^ abcdClass 153 Diesel Multiple Unit(PDF) (1A ed.). Derby: Porterbrook Leasing Company. January 2014. pp. 17–18. Archived from the original(PDF) on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^Haigh, Phil (17 December 2018). "ScotRail bike train plans take shape". Rail Magazine. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
^"Class 153s scrapped". Fleet Review. Railways Illustrated. No. 253. March 2024. p. 20.
^Russell, David (December 2024). "Depot Talk". Units. Rail Express. No. 343. p. 24.
^"Class 153 bought by aggregates firm to be repurposed as a reception unit". Network News. Rail Magazine. No. 1013. 10 July 2024. p. 19.
^Russell, David (February 2024). "Great Central Railway acquires two Class 153s, but not for preservation". Preservation. Rail Express. No. 333. p. 28.
^Russell, David (May 2024). "Multiple Unit Devlopments". Preservation. Rail Express. No. 336. p. 35.
^"GCR offers new lease of life to Class 153s". Today's Railways UK. No. 264. February 2024. p. 68.
^Russell, David (November 2023). "Class 153 developments". Units. Rail Express. No. 330. p. 21.
^ abcdefghij"Technical Driving and Cabs". Modern Locomotives Illustrated. No. 211. Stamford: Key Publishing. February 2015. pp. 54–63.
^"Hornby BR Class 153". Hornby Railways Collector Guide. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
^Wild, Mike (January 2010). "Dapol's Class 153 arrives". Hornby Magazine. No. 31. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 72–73. ISSN1753-2469. OCLC226087101.
^Wild, Mike (March 2010). "Advertising livery for 'N' Class 153". Hornby Magazine. No. 33. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. p. 80. ISSN1753-2469. OCLC226087101.