British Rail Class 156

British Rail Class 156
Super Sprinter
Arriva Rail North Class 156 in 2019
Interior of a refurbished Greater Anglia Class 156
In service16 May 1988 – present
ManufacturerMetro-Cammell
Order no.
  • 31028 (DMSL vehicles)
  • 31029 (DMS vehicles)[1]
Built atWashwood Heath, Birmingham
Family nameSprinter
Replaced
Constructed1987–1989[2]
Number built114
Number in service109
Formation
  • 2 cars per unit:
  • DMSL-DMS
Diagram
  • DMSL vehicles: DP244
  • DMS vehicles: DP245
Fleet numbers156401–156514[3]
Capacity
  • As built: 163 seats
  • As refurbished: 146–152 seats[4]
Owners
[5]
Operators
Depots
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length22.385 m (73 ft 5.3 in)
Width2.730 m (8 ft 11.5 in)
Height3.805 m (12 ft 5.8 in)
Floor height1.135 m (3 ft 8.7 in)
DoorsSingle-leaf pocket sliding (2 per side per car)[3]
Wheelbase
  • Bogies:
    2.600 m (8 ft 6.4 in)
  • Over bogie centres:
    16.000 m (52 ft 5.9 in)
Maximum speed75 mph (120 km/h)
Weight
  • As built:
  • DMSL vehicles: 38.6 t (38.0 LT; 42.5 ST)
  • DMS vehicles: 37.9 t (37.3 LT; 41.8 ST)
Prime mover(s)2 × Cummins NT855-R5 (one per vehicle)
Engine typeInline-6 4-stroke turbo-diesel[7]
Displacement14 L (855 cu in) per engine[7]
Power output430 kW (570 hp) total[3]
Transmission2 × Voith T 211 r (hydrokinetic, one per vehicle)[1]
HVACWarm air
UIC classification2′B′+B′2′
Bogies
  • Powered: BREL P3-10
  • Unpowered: BREL BT38
Minimum turning radius90.5 m (297 ft)
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic (tread)
('Westcode' three-step)[8]
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemBSI
Multiple workingWithin class, and with Classes 14x, 15x, and 170[3]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Specifications as at March 1987,[9] except where otherwise noted.

The British Rail Class 156 Super Sprinter is a diesel-hydraulic multiple unit passenger train. A total of 114 sets were built between 1987 and 1989 for British Rail by Metro-Cammell's Washwood Heath works. They were built to replace elderly first-generation DMUs and locomotive-hauled passenger trains.

Background

By the beginning of the 1980s, British Rail (BR) operated a large fleet of first generation DMUs, which had been constructed in prior decades to various designs.[10] While formulating its long-term strategy for this sector of its operations, British Rail planners recognised that there would be considerable costs incurred by undertaking refurbishment programmes necessary for the continued use of these ageing multiple units. Planners instead examined the prospects for the development and introduction of a new generation of DMUs to succeed the first generation.[11]

The initial specification was relatively ambitious, calling for a maximum speed of 90 mph (145 km/h) and acceleration comparable to contemporary EMUs.[11] This specification led to the experimental British Rail Class 210 DMU. However, it was found to be expensive, and it was recognised that a production model assembled from proven components would possess greater reliability and lower maintenance costs; an availability rate of 85 percent was forecast.[11]

By 1983, experiences with the Class 210 had influenced BR planners to favour procuring a new generation of DMUs, but to also adopt a new specification that were somewhat less demanding than before.[11] Specifically, it was decided to drop the top speed from 90 to 75 mph (145 to 120 km/h), as testing had revealed the higher rate to deliver no perceivable improvement in journey times due to the typically short spacing of the stations the type was intended to serve.[11] The requests for compatibility with other rolling stock were eliminated, although auto-coupling and auto-connecting functionality was added. In addition to a good ride quality, the specification included a sound level of 90 dB when at full speed, an operational range of 1,000 miles (1,600 km), and an interval between major overhauls of five years or 350,000 miles (560,000 km).[11]

The bid submitted by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) was heavily based on its successful Class 455 EMU, sharing its body and the majority of its running gear, albeit equipped with two different power trains.[11]

The resulting Class 150 was viewed as unsatisfactory for more-upmarket services. Studies showed coaches could be stretched, providing more internal volume and thus enabling the somewhat cramped two-by-three seating arrangement of the Class 150 to be substituted with a more roomy two-by-two counterpart. These changes could be implemented without impacting much of the benefits of adopting the existing design.[11]

It was identified that this would result in a weight increase and thus a decreased power-to-weight ratio, but it was determined that the performance of the proposed DMU was only slightly lower, and it could achieve similar journey times across the intended cross-country routes as the Class 150.[11] It was also found that, while there was a slight increase in fuel consumption due to the changes, the envisioned DMU had lower fuel consumption than locomotive-hauled trains and lower maintenance costs. Accordingly, it was decided to proceed with developing a detailed specification and issuing it to industry.[11] Amongst the requirements listed in the issued specification was the explicit statement of the acceptability of the proven power trains of both the Class 150 and Class 151.[11]

Description

The design of the Class 156 was relatively conservative in comparison to Metro-Cammell's earlier Class 151 design. Specific changes include the bodyshell being primarily composed of steel instead of aluminium; the deliberate decision was made to model the cab design on the earlier Class 150 was allegedly taken to ease union acceptance.[citation needed] Each coach is powered, being outfitted with a single six-cylinder Cummins NT855-R5 diesel engine coupled to a Voith T211r hydraulic transmission and Gmeinder final drive units.[12][13] The Class 156 can achieve a top speed of 75 mph (120 km/h). Construction of the welded bodyshells was subcontracted out; 118 by Procor Engineering of Wakefield, 60 by W.H. Davis of Mansfield, and 50 by Standard Wagon of Heywood. Aston Martin Tickford were awarded the interior fitout contract.[12]

The units were numbered 156401 to 156514. Each unit was formed of two powered vehicles, one of which contained a toilet.[13] Individual vehicle are numbered as follows, where the final three digits of the vehicle number match the unit to which the vehicle belongs:

  • 52401–52514: Driving Motor Standard Lavatory (DMSL)
  • 57401–57514: Driving Motor Standard (DMS), containing an area for storing wheelchairs, bicycles, bulky luggage etc.

Unlike the Class 150 units, the 156s have a single-leaf sliding door at either end of each coach. This reflected the expected longer journeys with fewer stops that the Class 156 was supposed to operate. As with the Class 150, all the doors are operable by passengers when released by the guard using one of two passenger door control panels; they are energised using a carriage key to turn a rotary switch situated on the cab bulkhead. Units operated by Abellio ScotRail have additionally been fitted with door-control panels near the centre sets of doors for the convenience of the guard.[citation needed]

Nine units used by Greater Anglia were transferred to East Midlands Railway in 2019, at which point they were renumbered into the 156/9 subclass (156419 becoming 156919, and so on) to indicate that their public address and passenger information systems were incompatible with EMR's existing Class 156 units.[14][15] A number of these units started to transfer to Northern Trains from December 2021 onwards, at which point they were returned to their original numbers.[16]

Operations

British Rail

Class 156 in Regional Railways livery in 1989.

On 10 November 1987, 156401 conducted its first test run from Washwood Heath to Banbury. Between January and July 1988, 156401-156429 were delivered to Crown Point TMD entering service on 16 May 1988 on new services from East Anglia to North West England as well as existing services from Norwich and Cambridge to Birmingham. They also operated boat trains from Harwich to Blackpool and later Liverpool.[12]

The remaining 85 were delivered to Heaton, Neville Hill, Haymarket and Inverness. With the Class 155 units withdrawn due to faulty door mechanisms, 25 were transferred to Cardiff from December 1988, with the last remaining until November 1989. In this guise they operated services as far south as Portsmouth. In May 1991, six were transferred from Crown Point to Derby Etches Park.[12]

On 15 June 1989, 156502 was sent to the Netherlands as part of the Dutch Railways 150th anniversary celebrations. It returned on 10 July.[12] On 21 October 1993, 156405 became the first Sprinter to accrue 1 million miles, whilst working the 10:10 Great Yarmouth to Norwich service.[citation needed]

Class 156 in Strathclyde livery at Carlisle Citadel in 1994

The first 100 were painted in Provincial sector's livery of blue and beige with light blue stripe. Twenty units based at Tyseley depot, 156401–156419 and 156422, were later repainted into Regional Railways Express livery after the rebranding of Provincial. The last fourteen units were operated by Strathclyde PTE, and carried an orange and black livery. Following the delivery of the Class 158s in the early 1990s, the 156s began to be cascaded to less important services.[12]

In the early 1990s, British Rail was looking to save costs on rural routes, and decided that operating two-car trains was too expensive. The company planned to convert a number of Class 156 units into single-car vehicles, named as Class 152. In the event, the decision was taken to do this with the Class 155 instead, forming the Class 153 fleet.[17]

Post-privatisation

As part of the privatisation of British Rail, the Class 156 fleet was split and sold to Angel Trains (76 units) and Porterbrook (38), who then leased the units to a number of train operating companies.[18][19]

Scotland

First ScotRail Class 156 at Oban in 2005
ScotRail Class 156 at Carlisle station in 2015

At privatisation the Scottish fleet passed to the National Express owned ScotRail franchise, which used them until 2004 when the franchise was taken over by First ScotRail. All passed to Abellio ScotRail with the franchise in 2015.

Units 156500–156514 were operated by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and originally wore its orange and black livery. This was replaced with a carmine and cream livery in 1997, which was also applied to further 14 units.[20][21] Despite receiving these special liveries, the SPT units were not confined to any specific route and thus worked in tandem with the rest of the Class 156 fleet on other routes.

In September 2008, Transport Scotland announced that all ScotRail trains (including those of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) would be repainted in a new livery of blue with white saltire markings on the carriage ends. The first unit was repainted in this livery by RailCare Springburn in February 2009.[22]

In December 2014, unit 156478 was written off by Angel Trains and sold to Brodie Leasing after being damaged by floodwaters on the Glasgow South Western Line. Brodie Leasing repaired the unit and it returned to service with Abellio ScotRail in October 2016.[23]

Between 2016 and 2019, all of ScotRail's Class 156 units were refurbished to make them compliant with PRM-TSI standard. This refurbishment included a larger toilet, a dedicated wheelchair area and brand new interior upholstery with new seats similar to those found on the Class 385.[24]

In late 2018, five units transferred to Arriva Rail North after the Class 385s began to enter service.[25]

From 2020, ScotRail’s Class 156 units began operating in multiple with Class 153 units on the West Highland Line to provide upgraded seating and additional capacity for bicycles and other sporting equipment.[26]

The ScotRail 156s currently operate the following routes:

Only the fifteen units fitted with Radio Electronic Token Block signalling equipment can operate on the West Highland Line.[citation needed]

East Anglia

Having originally been based in the East Anglia region but later transferred away, in early 2005 they returned when One received nine from Central Trains in exchange for a similar number of Class 150s.[27]

The units were used on the following local services:

as well as the longer distance services between Ipswich to Cambridge/Peterborough.

All nine passed to Abellio Greater Anglia when it took over the Greater Anglia franchise in February 2012. Despite being overhauled by Railcare Wolverton in 2012/13, including work to make them comply with disability legislation, all were replaced by Class 755s with the last day of service being 29 January 2020.[28][29] These then moved to East Midlands Railway,[30] where they were renumbered into the 156/9 subclass.[15]

Northern England

Northern Spirit liveried Class 156 at Buxton in 2007

Following privatisation, both Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western operated Class 156s and implemented their own refurbishment programmes. The two fleets were united when Northern Rail took over both franchises in 2004. Within the Northern region, Class 156s are concentrated in the North-West and also the North-East, but are uncommon now in Yorkshire and Humberside, where Class 158s and other unit types are used instead.[citation needed]

In 2011, fourteen Class 156s were fitted with GPS as a trial for Northern Rail, being tested on the Esk Valley line.[31] In 2011 four were transferred to East Midlands Trains.[32]

In January 2015, Northern Rail began to hire 156s to First TransPennine Express to operate Manchester Airport to Blackpool North services.[33] Northern Rail's fleet of 42 Class 156s passed to Arriva Rail North when the then-new franchise started on 1 April 2016. The 156s began to operate Manchester Airport to Barrow in Furness and Oxenholme to Windermere services from this date after they along with the Manchester Airport to Blackpool North services were transferred to the franchise.[34]

An additional five Class 156 units transferred to Northern from Abellio ScotRail in late 2018.[25] On 1 March 2020 the Northern units were transferred to new operator Northern Trains.

Fifteen Class 156s are to be transferred from East Midlands Railway to Northern Trains. These units include the nine Class 156/9s formerly used by Greater Anglia.[35] Some of these units are already with Northern Trains, with more due to follow.[36] The delivery of them commenced at the December timetable change in 2021.[16] For the December timetable change in 2022, five more units were transferred.[37] In March 2023 another unit was transferred.[38]

Midlands

East Midlands Trains Class 156 at Derby in 2012

In 1997, Central Trains inherited twenty units from Regional Railways[39] for use mainly on medium-distance services such as:

In an attempt at fleet standardisation, preparations were made during 2003 to exchange all 20 Class 156s for an equal number of ScotRail Class 158s, with 156402 partially repainted in ScotRail colours in readiness when overhauled at Wabtec, Doncaster.[40] The transfer did not proceed after the Scottish Government refused to sanction the move, and the rest of the fleet were reliveried into Central Trains' colours between 2003 and 2005.[citation needed]

Nine units were transferred to One during early 2005, in exchange for a similar number of Class 150s.[27]

At the end of the Central Trains franchise, the remaining 11 units were transferred to East Midlands Trains, who repainted the fleet during 2008[41] and then carried out a refurbishment program from autumn 2010 onwards.[42] The refurbishment, carried out at Neville Hill depot, included interior refurbishment work, improvements to driving cabs and installation of CCTV.[43][44] These trains were used on slower medium-distance services such as Nottingham/Derby to Matlock, Nottingham to Skegness, Leicester to Lincoln and Nottingham to Worksop. In May 2011, four additional units were transferred from Northern Rail to allow Nottingham to Liverpool services to be strengthened.[44]

Beginning in late 2019, the nine class 156s transferred to Greater Anglia in 2005, passed to East Midlands Railway.[45] Because they had a different public address and passenger information system to EMR's existing Class 156 fleet, they were renumbered into the 156/9 subclass.[14][15]

In December 2022, four units were sent for storage at Barrow Hill, with East Midlands Railway stating that they will be moved to Ely Papworth sidings at a later date.[46]

Fleet details

Class Operator Qty. Year built Cars Unit nos.
156/0 Northern Trains 66 1987–1989 2 156401–156406, 156408–156429, 156438, 156440–156441, 156443–156444, 156447–156449, 156451–156452, 156454–156455, 156459–156461, 156463–156466, 156468–156469, 156471–156472, 156475, 156479–156491, 156496[16][47][48][49][50][51]
ScotRail 42 156430–156437, 156439, 156442, 156445–156446, 156450, 156453, 156456–156458, 156462, 156467, 156474, 156476–156477, 156492–156495, 156499–156514[citation needed]
Stored 5 156470, 156473, 156478, 156497–156498[52][53]
156/9 Stored 1 156907[54]

Named units

Some units have received names:

  • 156409 Cromer Pier seaside Special (denamed)[55]
  • 156416 Saint Edmund[55]
  • 156420 La'al Ratty Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway[55]
  • 156426 The Yorkshire Dales Explorer[56]
  • 156433 The Kilmarnock Edition (denamed)[55]
  • 156638 Timothy Hackworth[55]
  • 156440 George Bradshaw[55]
  • 156441 William Huskisson MP[55]
  • 156444 Councillor Bill Cameron[55]
  • 156449 Saint Columba (danamed)[55]
  • 156554 Whitby Endeavour (denamed)[55]
  • 156459 Benny Rothman The Manchester Rambler[55]
  • 156460 Driver John Axon GC (denamed)[57]
  • 156464 Lancashire Dales Rail[55]
  • 156465 Bonnie Prince Charlie (denamed)[55]
  • 156466 Gracie Feilds (formerly Buxton Festival)[55]
  • 156477 Highland Festival (denamed)[55]
  • 156482 Elizabeth Gaskell[58]
  • 156490 Captain James Cook Master Mariner[55]

Liveries

Operating company Livery
Regional Railways
Arriva Trains Northern
Northern Rail
Arriva Rail North Class 156 in Arriva Northern Livery
Northern Trains Class 156 in Northern Trains Livery
Greater Anglia
ONE
National Express
East Midlands Railway
First North Western

Accidents and incidents

Models

Lima produced OO gauge models of Class 156 units, with sixteen variants available in total.[67] Some of these models were subsequently relaunched by Hornby Railways in 2006.[68]

Realtrack Models released their own OO-gauge Class 156 models in 2017, in Regional Railways Provincial, First ScotRail, and East Midlands Trains liveries.[69]

References

  1. ^ a b Fox 1987, p. 45
  2. ^ Fox & Hughes 1994, p. 33
  3. ^ a b c d "Class 156". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 9 March 2005.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ Bevan Brittan LLC (26 March 2014). The Northern Interim Franchise Agreement (PDF). London: Department for Transport. M-10204941-1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Brodies puts 156478 up for sale". Today's Railways UK. No. 262. December 2023. p. 57.
  6. ^ Fox & Hughes 1994, pp. 33–35
  7. ^ a b Marine Engine General Data Sheet N/NT/NTA 855-M (PDF). Columbus, Indiana: Cummins Engine Company. 18 February 2002. p. 1. DS-4962. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  8. ^ Rail Accident Report 26/2006: Collision between train and buffer stops at Sudbury, 27 January 2006 (PDF). Derby: Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport. December 2006. p. 11. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  9. ^ Vehicle Diagram Book No. 220 for Diesel Multiple Unit Trains (Railcars) (PDF). Derby: Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Department, British Railways Board. March 1987. DP244, DP245 (in work pp. 83–86). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2023 – via Barrowmore MRG.
  10. ^ Thomas, David St. John; Whitehouse, P. B. (1990). BR in the Eighties. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-71539-854-8.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Shore, A. G. L. (1987). "British Rail Diesel Multiple Unit Replacement Programme". Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Transport Engineering. 201 (2): 115–122. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.1008.3291. doi:10.1243/PIME_PROC_1987_201_165_02. ISSN 0265-1904. S2CID 109194039.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "The Class 156 Super Sprinter story". Today's Railways UK. No. 87 (March 2009). pp. 44–56.
  13. ^ a b The Railway Data File. Leicester: Blitz Editions. 1999. p. 82. ISBN 978-1-85605-499-7.
  14. ^ a b "EMR's new Class 156s renumbered". Rail Magazine. No. 896. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. p. 21.
  15. ^ a b c "Enter the Class 156/9". Rail Express. No. 285. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. February 2020. p. 90.
  16. ^ a b c Russell, David (February 2022). "Northern takes on extra Class 156s". Units. Rail Express. No. 309. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. p. 26.
  17. ^ "The all-time guide to the UK Traction Classification System Part 3: Diesel Multiple Units" (PDF). The Railway Centre. 2 May 2006. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ^ "Regional Passenger Trains - Class 156". London: Angel Trains. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018.
  19. ^ "Fleet Portfolio - Class 156". Porterbrook.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ "Strathclyde adopts new livery for fleet". Rail Magazine. No. 298. 12 February 1997. p. 13.
  21. ^ "SPT confirms carmine & cream as new livery". The Railway Magazine. No. 1172. April 1997. p. 62.
  22. ^ "All Scotland's trains to get Saltire livery". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 31 July 2008. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
  23. ^ "Flood-damaged DMU returns to service". Railway Gazette International. 19 October 2016. Archived from the original on 26 December 2017.
  24. ^ "REFURBISHED SCOTRAIL '156'". Modern Railways. 27 July 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Northern announces dates for rundown of Pacer fleet". Rail Express. No. 244. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. September 2016. p. 11.
  26. ^ "ScotRail Highland Explorer". www.scotrail.co.uk. ScotRail Trains Ltd.
  27. ^ a b "Central starts rebranding its ex Anglia 150s". Rail Magazine. No. 517. 6 July 2005. p. 27.
  28. ^ "Newly refurbished Class 156 train re-enters service". London: Abellio Greater Anglia. 3 December 2012. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017.
  29. ^ "Stadler and Bombardier to supply trains for Abellio East Anglia franchise". Railway Gazette International. DVV Media International. 10 August 2016. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017.
  30. ^ "Hitachi rumoured to have won EMR bi-mode deal". Rail Magazine. No. 884. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. 31 July 2019. p. 28.
  31. ^ "Train tracking trials". The Whitby Gazette. 17 March 2011.[permanent dead link]
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  33. ^ "Train Announcement". London: First TransPennine Express. 8 January 2015. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016.
  34. ^ The Rail Executive (27 February 2015). Transforming the North's Railways: Northern Rail Franchise and TransPennine Express Rail Franchise Stakeholder Briefing Document and Consultation Response (PDF). London: Department for Transport. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  35. ^ "More 156s for Northern". Modern Railways. No. 870. Stamford: Key Publishing. March 2021. p. 87.
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  38. ^ Russell, David (May 2023). "Class 156 'Super Sprinter'". Units. Rail Express. No. 324. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. p. 20.
  39. ^ Knight, Steven, ed. (1997). A comprehensive guide to Britain's new railway. Peterborough: EMAP Apex. OCLC 154179551.
  40. ^ "CT Class 156 emerges unbranded". Rail Magazine. No. 466. 23 July 2003. p. 70.
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  42. ^ "Rail passengers welcome first trains to undergo part of £5m makeover". This is Lincolnshire. Northcliffe Media Limited. 29 September 2010. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012.
  43. ^ "EMT starts 153 and 156 refurbishment". Today's Railways UK. No. 105. September 2010. p. 64.
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  45. ^ "East Midlands Railway unveils new look". Today's Railways UK. No. 212. August 2019. p. 13.
  46. ^ East Midlands Railway [@EastMidRailway] (20 December 2022). "They will be moving to Ely Papworth" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via Twitter.
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  54. ^ "EMR down to 4 156s". Today's Railways UK. No. 256. June 2023. p. 60.
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  56. ^ Butlin, Ashley (August 2024). "Multiple Units". Stock Update. The Railway Magazine. Vol. 170, no. 1481. p. 87.
  57. ^ Russell, David (November 2020). "Shed Talk". Units. Rail Express. No. 294. p. 31.
  58. ^ Bendall, Simon (May 2014). "Name Game". Traction and Rolling Stock. Rail Express. No. 216. p. 55.
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  60. ^ Rail Accident Report: Accident at Falls of Cruachan, Argyll, 6 June 2010 (PDF). Derby: Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport. 14 July 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  61. ^ Gabbatt, Adam; Meikle, James (18 August 2010). "Suffolk rail crossing crash leaves man with life-threatening injuries". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  62. ^ Rail Accident Report: Class investigation into landslips affecting Network Rail infrastructure between June 2012 and February 2013 (PDF). Derby: Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport. 3 April 2014. pp. 12–17, 50. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  63. ^ "Flood-damaged DMU returns to service". Railway Gazette International. DVV Media International. 19 October 2016. Archived from the original on 26 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  64. ^ Foote, Charles (22 January 2018). "Landslip derails train leaving passengers stranded". STV News. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  65. ^ "Disruption to rail services between Newcastle and Carlisle after train hits car". Cumbria Crack. Barrnon Media. 7 January 2019. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  66. ^ "Cordon erected after 'car dragged along by train' as National Rail services cancelled". The Gazette. 3 May 2024.
  67. ^ "Lima Model Railway Locomotive Reviews - Class 156 Super Sprinter DMU". New Railway Modellers. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  68. ^ "Hornby BR Class 156". Hornby Railways Collector Guide. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  69. ^ "VIDEO: Realtrack Models Class 156 for OO gauge". Hornby Magazine. Key Publishing. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.

Sources

  • Fox, Peter (1987). British Railways Pocket Book No. 2: Multiple Units (Summer–Autumn 1987 ed.). Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. ISBN 978-0-90657-974-9.
  • Fox, Peter; Hughes, Barry (1994). British Railways Pocket Book No. 3: DMUs & Channel Tunnel Stock (7th ed.). Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. ISBN 978-1-87252-459-7.

Further reading

  • Knight, Steve (13 July 1989). "Metro-Cammel's 100th Super-Sprinter". Rail Magazine. No. 100. Emap National Publications. pp. 26–27. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.

Media related to British Rail Class 156 at Wikimedia Commons