The Trains
This is the page containing information about the trains used in and around Merseyside. Featuring units operated by Arriva Trains Wales, Central Trains, Northern, Merseyrail and Transpennine Express. Please allow 30 seconds for the pictures to load. If the pictures take over a minute to load, please contact me and I will correct the problem. If you can provide any missing pictures or find any mistakes please contact me and I will do best to correct the problems! Enjoy the page!
MERSEY TRAINS UNIT OF THE MONTH!! JUNE 2007
Unit of the Month is back and after some recent travels here are my best and worst units!
Best 142: 142051: This unit is clean, reliable, a good accelerator and has a nice interior. I hope this stays on Liverpool area services!
Worst 142: 142036. This unit is strange it does have an nice exterior but sounds weird, it is one of a few 142's that whine when they start up, and is a poor acclerator. Put it on the Kirkby Line Northern!
Best 150: 150273: It's clean, great interior and is reliable and should stay on Liverpool-Stalybridge services.
Worst 150: 150146: After a graffiti attack on 150146 it looks bad but sounds worse it has a horrible whistling coming from 57146 and I wouldn't put it on Liverpool area services, keep it on Manchester Locals!
Best 156: 156441: I had a ride on this yesterday(Saturday 16th June) on the 13:14 Lpool to Manchester Airport and wow!! Acclerating brillant and we were flat out 75mph between Broad Green and Rainhill. It has a brilliant interior and exterior, we were 2 mins down at Wavertree but 2 mins early at St Helens Junction, keep it on Liverpool to Manchester Airport!
Worst 156: 156421: Again after a graffiti attack the unit looks horrible and needs to be repainted a.s.a.p and is a poor acclerator
Best 507: 507020: I didn't get a ride on this but the exterior said it all it looked amazing!
Worst 507: 507015: I had the pleasure of this unit on the New Brighton Line, and it's a very poor acclerator.
Best 508: 508122: This unit is fast and apart from a few rubbed out M's it's a really good 508!
Worst 508: 508110: This is one of my favourite 508's but it is the worst 508 at the moment it looks horrible sounds horrible and just can't reach it's full potential speedwise so it's better on the Kirkby or New Brighton Line
Keep checking every month for Unit Of The Month!
Class 142
Technical Information
Builder: BREL Derby & Leyland
Consruction: Built from Leyland National bus parts
Engine: 1xCummins LTA10-R
Couplers: BSI
Maximum Speed: 75mph
Amount of Coaches: 2
Northern
AU
(Top Image, 142092 at Huyton (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 142096 (C) Rob Knight)
MY
(Top image, 142043 at Huyton (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 142046 (C) Rob Knight)
NS
(Top image, 142025 at Huyton (C) Shaun Vance
(Above, the interior of 142096 (C) Rob Knight)
NW
(Top image, 142034 at Chester (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 142001 (C) Rob Knight)
A fleet of 78 Class 142's are operated by Northern. The pacers are mainly used on Lime Street-Wigan North Western/Manchester Oxford Road and Chester-Manchester Piccadilly services. Class 142's are also used for the Ormskirk-Preston, Kirkby-Wigan Wallgate-Manchester Victoria and Southport-Manchester Airport/Rochdale services. Class 142's are the staple diet of the Merseyrail City Line network and 17 2-car units have been repainted in the revised Merseyrail livery (MY) for the services. The 49 units based at Newton Heath depot in Manchester are in North Western Trains blue and gold (NW) and 29 are based at Heaton depot in Newcastle. Of these just 4 are painted in Northern Spirit livery (NS) and the other 25 are painted in unbranded Arriva Trains livery (AU).
Class 150
Technical Information
Builder: BREL York
Consruction: Steel
Engine: 1xCummins NT855R5
Couplers: BSI
Maximum Speed: 75mph
Amount of Coaches: 2/3
Northern
NB (150145)
Class 150145 at Huyton.
(Above, the interior of 150201 (C) Rob Knight)
NB (150228/268-277)
150273 at Liverpool Lime Street (C) Shaun Vance
NW
(Top image, 150142 at Chester (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 150201 (C) Rob Knight)
A fleet of 38 Class 150's are operated by Northern. They are painted in the North Western Trains blue with gold stars (NW). Units are now being repainted into the new Northern livery (NB). 150145 carries an advert in addition to the Northern livery. Northern has 18 are Class 150/1's, 11 are Ex-Merseyrail Class 150/2's and 10 are Ex-Arriva Trains Northern 150/2's. These units are used mainly on Lime Street-Blackpool North, Stalybridge/Warrington Bank Quay, Huddersfield, Wigan North Western and Manchester Oxford Road services. Class 150's are also the main rolling stock for the Southport-Manchester Airport/Rochdale/Crewe trains. Occasionly these will work the Chester-Manchester Piccadilly services instead of the booked Class 142. The Northern units are based a Newton Heath, Manchester.
Arriva Trains Wales
AV
(No. 150267/278-282)
(Top image, 150264 at Chester (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 150279 (C) Rob Knight)
AV
(No. 150208/245/250/252/256/258-260/262/264/283-285)
(Top image, 150264 at Chester (C) Rob Knight)
WP
(Top image, 150253 at Chester (C) Rob Knight)
Arriva Trains Wales operate a fleet of 26 Class 150's. These usually find work in the North West on Chester-Shrewsbury stoppers and strengthening other services. The Arriva Class 150 fleet carries in three liveries. Most of the fleet has been repainted in to Arriva Trains Livery (AV). 150's are now starting to arrive from First Great Western, carrying Wessex Trains promotional liveries (WP). These units are based at Cardiff Canton.
Class 153
Technical Information
Builder: Leyland (Converted by Hunslet Barclay, Kilmarnock)
Bodywork: Built from Leyland National bus parts
Engine: 1xCummins NT855R5
Couplers: BSI
Maximum Speed: 75mph
Amount of Coaches: 1
Northern
AU
(Top image, 153352 at Leeds (C) Rob Knight)
NW
(Top image, 153361 at Chester (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 153360 (C) Rob Knight)
A fleet of 20 Class 153 single car units are operated by Northern. Although these mainly operate in Cumbria and Yorkshire, they do make it to Merseyside when they operate on the Ormskirk-Preston line. 8 are in the North Western Trains blue with gold stars livery (NW) and 12 are in Arriva Trains turqoise (AV). All are based at Neville Hill depot in Leeds.
Arriva Trains Wales
AV
(Above, the interior of 153312 (C) Rob Knight)
HW
(Top image, 153312 at Shotton (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 153312 (C) Rob Knight)
NW
(Top image, 153361 at Chester (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 153360 (C) Rob Knight)
A fleet of 11 Class 153 single car units are operated by Arriva Trains Wales. These are mainly deployed on Chester-Crewe shuttles and Bidston-Wrexham Central services, both of these route are highly unsuitable for the 153's due to their low capacity. These small DMU's can also be attactched to other units to increase capacity at peak times. The Arriva fleet is painted in three liveries, 6 carry the 'Heart of Wales line' advertising livery (HW) and 2 carry North Western Trains blue (NW). These units are starting to receive Arriva livery (AV), and currently 3 units have been repainted. These units are based at Cardif Canton depot.
Class 156
Technical Information
Builder: Metro-Cammell
Bodywork: Steel
Engine: 1xCummins NT855R5
Couplers: BSI
Maximum Speed: 75mph
Amount of Coaches: 2
Central Trains
CT
(Top image, 156406 at Liverpool Lime Street (C) Rob Knight)
Central Trains fleet of 11 Class 156 sprinter DMU's are mainly used on local services in Birmingham but sometimes the Central Sprinters do make it to Merseyside but only when a Class 158 or Class 170 is unavailable. All are painted in Central's green livery (CT) . The units are based at Tyseley depot in Birmingham.
Northern
FS
(Top image, 156424 at Huyton (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 156425 (C) Rob Knight)
FU
(Top image, 156459 at St Helens Central (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 156425 (C) Rob Knight)
NB
(Top image, 156461 at Manchester Oxford Road (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 156425 (C) Rob Knight)
NP
(Top, 156451 at Liverpool Lime Street (C) Gordon Voller)
(Above, the interior of 156498 (C) Rob Knight)
NS
(Top image, 156498 at Liverpool Lime Street (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 156498 (C) Rob Knight)
NT
(Top image, 156464 at Liverpool Lime Street (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 156425 (C) Rob Knight)
Northern's fleet of 46 Class 156 two car sprinter units are mainly used on Liverpool Lime Street-Blackpool North/Barrow services and Liverpool Lime Street-Manchester Airport limited stop trains. Some units have been refurbished and have been repainted in First North Western 'Barbie' livery (FS) . Later in the refurbishment program when First knew they weren't getting the Northern franchise, 4 units emerged from Wabtec Doncaster in plain purple with white doors (FU) . 156426, 156429, 156455 and 156459 all carry this livery. One unit (156451) carries Northern version 1 (NP) , only three units carry Northern version 2 livery (NT) (156425, 156460 and 156464), this being a reverse to the one carried by 156451. Only 2 units carry Northern Blue livery (NB) . 156469 also carries pictures advertising the Leeds-Sheffield fast service, celebrating 1 year of operation, and 156461 carries an advert for the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway. All remaining members of the fleet carry Northern Spirit lime green and light blue (NS) . 25 units are based at Newton Heath in Manchester, 14 are based at Neville Hill in Leeds and 7 are based at Heaton in Newcastle.
Class 158
Technical Information
Builder: BREL
Bodywork: Aluminium
Engine: Transpennine, Northern and Central Trains (No 158780/784/785/787/788/790-797) Units-1xCummins NTA855R
Central Trains (No 158856/857/858/862) Units-1xPerkins 2006-TWH
Couplers: BSI
Maximum Speed: 90mph
Amount of Coaches: 2/3
Northern
CU
(Top image, 158849 at Liverpool Lime Street (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 158793 (C) Rob Knight)
NW
(Top image, 158758 at Liverpool Lime Street (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 158755 (C) Rob Knight)
YM
(Top image, 158907 at Liverpool Lime Street (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 158907 (C) Rob Knight)
Northern's fleet of 19 Class 158 DMU's express DMU's are mainly used in the North East, but some units may work the Liverpool-Manchester Airport trains in an emergency. Northern's Class 158's are 2-car units and are painted in North Western Trains blue with gold stars (NW) or WYPTE silver and red (YM). Northern are also lease 158787 surples to requirments at Central Trains. This carries Central Trains livery (CT). These units are based at Neville Hill depot in Leeds.
Arriva Trains Wales
AV
(Top image, 158823 at Chester (C) Dave Bramley)
(Above, the interior of 158841 (C) Rob Knight)
WB
(Top image, 158822 at Earlestown (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 158841 (C) Rob Knight)
Arriva Trains Wales has a fleet of 24 2-car Class 158 DMU's. These run the Holyhead-Crewe/Cardiff Central and the Chester-Birmingham New Street services along side the Class 175's. The trains are in many different liveries. 5 units currently carry Arriva livery (AV). 17 units carry the Wales & Borders silverline livery of silver bodysides with blue doors with Arriva branding (WB), having had the alphaline logos removed in 2003. These units are based at Cardiff Canton.
First Transpennine Express
TP
(Top image, 158975 at Liverpool Lime Street (C) Rob Knight)
Transpennine Express, operated by First group and Keolis have a fleet of 9 2-car units. Although these are now in their final days with Transpennine due to the replacement by the 185's, these units can operate into Merseyside on Liverpool Lime Street-Scarbrough when needed. All 9 units carry the maroon with gold 'N' (TP) from the MTL days, with a blue band around the botton with First and Transpennine logos on them. The Transpennine fleet is based at Heaton depot in Newcastle and Neville Hill depot in Leeds.
Central Trains
CT
(Top image, 158783 at Liverpool Lime Street (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 158793 (C) Rob Knight)
Central Trains currently has a fleet of 12 Class 158's. All 12 units carry the full Central Trains livery (CT). The 158's are mainly used in pairs or with a 170 on some Liverpool Lime Street-Norwich.Nottingham services. Central's fleet of 158's are based at Tyseley depot in Bimingham.
Class 170
Technical Information
Builder: Adtranz/Bombardier Derby
Bodywork: Aluminum+Steel cab ends
Engine: 1xMTU 6R183TD13H
Couplers: BSI
Maximum Speed: 100mph
Amount of Coaches: 2/3
Central Trains
CT
(Top image, 170517 at Edge Hill (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 170515 (C) Rob Knight)
MM
(Top image, 170114 at Liverpool Lime Street (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 170116 (C) Rob Knight)
PC
(Top image, 170398 at Wolverhampton (C) Rob Knight)
The only operator of Class 170 'Turbostars' in Merseyside, Central Trains has a fleet of 31 Class 170/1, 170/3 and 170/5 2-car units and 12 Class 170/3's and 170/6 3-car units. These gain access to Merseyside on Liverpool Lime Street-Norwich 'Citylink' services. The CT fleet carries three liveries. All 31 of the 170/5's and 170/6's carry Central green livery (CT). The 17 170/1's transferred from Midland Mainline (MM) carry the teal green, light grey strip along the bottom and white Central Trains branding. 170397 and 170398 carry Porterbrook livery with green and blue Central Trains branding (PC), similar to the Class 170/1's. 170399 carries a Derwent Vally Mills advertising livery. These units are based at Tyseley but can be found at Derby Etches Park.
Class 175
Technical Information
Builder: Alstom, Washwood Heath (Birmingham)
Bodywork: Steel
Engine: 1xCummins N14
Couplers: Scharfenberg
Maximum Speed: 100mph
Amount of Coaches: 2/3
Arriva Trains Wales
AW
(Top image, 175110 at Chester (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 175110 (C) Rob Knight)
FS
(Top image, 175111 at Flint (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 175110 (C) Rob Knight)
Arriva Trains Wales operates 11 2-car and 16 3-car Class 175's which were inherited from First North Western in December 2003. 25 units are carry First 'Barbie' livery (FS). Only two units carry Arriva Trains (AW) livery. These units mainly operate on the Llandudno-Manchester, Holyhead-Crewe and Holyhead-Cardiff Central services, but another common duty is the Crewe-Chester shuttle service. Some units also work on the Chester-Birmingham New Street services along with the Class 158's. When out of service these can be found at Chester Station in the sidings or at Chester DMUD, their home depot which was specially constructed for the 'Coradia's'.
Class 185
Technical Information
Builder: Bombardier, Brugge
Bodywork: Aluminium
Engine: Cummins (750hp)
Couplers: Dellner
Maximum Speed: 100mph
Amount of Coaches: 3
FN
(Top image, 185109 at Manchester Piccadilly C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 185121 (C) Rob Knight)
First Transpennine Express operates 51 Class 185 'Pennine' units. All the units carry the new First Rail Division 'Neon' livery (FN). These units operate into Liverpool on Liverpool-Newcastle / Middlesborough / Scarborough and Hull services. These units are based at Ardwick in Manchester.
Class 220 and 221
Technical Information
Builder: Bombardier, Brugge
Bodywork: Steel
Engine: Cummins (750hp)
Couplers: Dellner
Maximum Speed: 125mph
Amount of Coaches: 4/5
Virgin Trains
VT
(Top image, 221139 at Warrington Bank Quay (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 221121 (C) Rob Knight)
The Class 220 and 221 4/5-car DEMU's are mainly used in the Mersey Trains area on trains through Warrington and Chester to London, Scotland, the South West and Wales. All are painted in Virgin's silver livery. The 220's are the standard design, while the 221's are the tilting version of the units. When out of service, these units can be found at Allerton Depot. These units are based at Central Rivers near Burton-on-Trent.
Class 350
Technical Information
Builder: Siemens, Kreffeld
Bodywork: Welded Alluminium
Motor: 4 x Siemens 1TB2016-0GB02 asynchronous
Couplers: Dellner
Maximum Speed: 100mph
Amount of Coaches: 4
Central Trains
GB
(Top image, 350122 at Crewe (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 350111 (C) Rob Knight)
The Class 350 4-car EMU's are the newest trains in Merseyside, and operate services for Central Trains between Birmingham New Street-Liverpool and Birmingham New Street-Preston and Silverlink between Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston. As well as operating these services, they also operate Central Trains services between Birmingham New Street-Northampton, and Silverlink County services between London Euston-Tring and London Euston-Northampton. All are painted in the WCML Desiro livery of Blue and Grey. When out of service these units can be found at Crewe LNWR and Soho (Birmingham). These units are based at Crewe LNWR.
Class 390
Technical Information
Builder: Alstom, Birmingham
Bodywork: Welded Alluminium
Motor: 2 x Alstom ONIX 800
Couplers: Dellner
Maximum Speed: 125mph
Amount of Coaches: 9
Virgin Trains
VT
(Top image, 390001 at Wolverhampton (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 390051 (C) Rob Knight)
The Class 390 'Pendolino' EMU's are used on services between London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street and London Euston-Holyhead during the peak hour and with Class 57 haulage. All are painted in Virgin's silver livery. When out of service, these units can be found at Edge Hill. These trains are based at Longsight (Manchester).
Class 507 and 508
Technical Information
Builder: BREL York
Bodywork: Steel
Motor: 4 GEC G310AZ
Couplers: Tightlock
Maximum Speed: 75mph
Amount of Coaches: 3
Merseyrail
ME
(Top image, 507021 at Bebington (C) Rob Knight)
(Above, the interior of 508124 (C) Rob Knight)
The Class 507 and 508 3-car EMU's are the main Merseyside trains operating from Liverpool City Centre to Hunts Cross, West Kirby, Chester, Kirkby, New Brighton, Southport, Ellesmere Port and Ormskirk. All are refurbished and painted in the new silver and yellow 'Tiger' livery (ME). When out of service these trains can be found at Kirkdale and Birkenhead North depots or Southport, New Brighton or West Kirby. These units are based at Birkenhead North depot.
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