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| British Rail Class 156 Sprinter | |
|---|---|
 Arriva Rail North Class 156 in 2019 | |
 Interior of a refurbishedNorthern Trains Class 156 | |
| In service | 16 May 1988 – present |
| Manufacturer | Metro-Cammell |
| Orderno. |
|
| Built at | Washwood Heath,Birmingham |
| Family name | Sprinter |
| Replaced |
|
| Constructed | 1987–1989[2] |
| Number built | 114 |
| Number in service | 109 |
| Formation | |
| Diagram |
|
| Fleet numbers | 156401–156514[3] |
| Capacity |
|
| Owners |
|
| Operators | |
| Depots | |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel |
| Car length | 22.385 m (73 ft 5.3 in) |
| Width | 2.730 m (8 ft 11.5 in) |
| Height | 3.805 m (12 ft 5.8 in) |
| Floor height | 1.135 m (3 ft 8.7 in) |
| Doors | Single-leaf pocket sliding(2 per side per car)[3] |
| Wheelbase |
|
| Maximum speed | 75 mph (120 km/h) |
| Weight |
|
| Prime mover(s) | 2 ×Cummins NT855-R5(one per vehicle) |
| Engine type | Inline-64-stroketurbo-diesel[7] |
| Displacement | 14 L (855 cu in) per engine[7] |
| Power output | 430 kW (570 hp) total[3] |
| Transmission | 2 ×Voith T 211 r(hydrokinetic, one per vehicle)[1] |
| HVAC | Warm air |
| UIC classification | 2′B′+B′2′ |
| Bogies |
|
| Minimum turning radius | 90.5 m (297 ft) |
| Braking system(s) | Electro-pneumatic (tread) ('Westcode' three-step)[8] |
| Safety system(s) | |
| Coupling system | BSI |
| Multiple working | Within class, and with Classes14x,15x, and170[3] |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge |
| Notes/references | |
| Specifications as at March 1987,[9] except where otherwise noted. | |
TheBritish Rail Class 156Super Sprinter is adiesel-hydraulic multiple unit passenger train. A total of 114 sets were built between 1987 and 1989 forBritish Rail byMetro-Cammell'sWashwood Heath works. They were built to replace elderlyfirst-generation DMUs and locomotive-hauled passenger trains.
By the beginning of the 1980s,British Rail (BR) operated a large fleet offirst 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 experimentalBritish 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 theClass 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 90dB 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 byBritish Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) was heavily based on its successfulClass 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]
The design of the Class 156 was relatively conservative in comparison to Metro-Cammell's earlierClass 151 design. Specific changes include the bodyshell being primarily composed ofsteel instead ofaluminium; the deliberate decision was made to model the cab design on the earlierClass 150 was allegedly taken to easeunion acceptance.[citation needed] Each coach is powered, being outfitted with a single six-cylinderCummins NT855-R5 diesel engine coupled to aVoith T211rhydraulic transmission andGmeinder 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 ofWakefield, 60 by W.H. Davis ofMansfield, and 50 by Standard Wagon ofHeywood.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 atoilet.[13] Individual vehicle are numbered as follows, where the final three digits of the vehicle number match the unit to which the vehicle belongs:
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 byAbellio 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 byAbellio Greater Anglia were transferred toEast 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 toNorthern Trains from December 2021 onwards, at which point they were returned to their original numbers.[16]
On 10 November 1987, 156401 conducted its first test run from Washwood Heath toBanbury. Between January and July 1988, 156401-156429 were delivered toCrown Point TMD entering service on 16 May 1988 on new services fromEast Anglia toNorth West England as well as existing services fromNorwich andCambridge toBirmingham. They also operated boat trains fromHarwich toBlackpool and laterLiverpool.[12]
The remaining 85 were delivered toHeaton,Neville Hill,Haymarket andInverness. With theClass 155 units withdrawn due to faulty door mechanisms, 25 were transferred toCardiff from December 1988, with the last remaining until November 1989. In this guise they operated services as far south asPortsmouth. In May 1991, six were transferred from Crown Point toDerby Etches Park.[12]
On 15 June 1989, 156502 was sent to the Netherlands as part of theDutch Railways 150th anniversary celebrations. It returned on 10 July.[12][17]On 21 October 1993, 156405 became the first Sprinter to accrue 1 million miles, whilst working the 10:10Great Yarmouth toNorwich service.[citation needed]
The first 100 were painted in Provincial sector's livery of blue and beige with light blue stripe. Twenty units based atTyseley depot, 156401–156419 and 156422, were later repainted intoRegional RailwaysExpress livery after the rebranding of Provincial. The last fourteen units were operated byStrathclyde PTE, and carried an orange and black livery. Following the delivery of theClass 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 asClass 152. In the event, the decision was taken to do this with theClass 155 instead, forming theClass 153 fleet.[18]
As part of theprivatisation of British Rail, the Class 156 fleet was split and sold toAngel Trains (76 units) andPorterbrook (38), who then leased the units to a number oftrain operating companies.[19][20]
At privatisation the Scottish fleet passed to theNational Express ownedScotRail franchise, which used them until 2004 when the franchise was taken over byFirst ScotRail. All passed toAbellio ScotRail with the franchise in 2015.
Units 156500–156514 were operated byStrathclyde 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.[21][22] 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 whitesaltire markings on the carriage ends. The first unit was repainted in this livery byRailCare Springburn in February 2009.[23]
In December 2014, unit 156478 was written off byAngel Trains and sold to Brodie Leasing after being damaged by floodwaters on theGlasgow South Western Line. Brodie Leasing repaired the unit and it returned to service with Abellio ScotRail in October 2016.[24]
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 theClass 385.[25]
In late 2018, five units transferred toArriva Rail North after theClass 385s began to enter service.[26]
From 2020,ScotRail’s Class 156 units began operating in multiple withClass 153 units on theWest Highland Line to provide upgraded seating and additional capacity for bicycles and other sporting equipment.[27]
The ScotRail 156s currently operate the following routes:
Only the fifteen units fitted withRadio Electronic Token Block signalling equipment can operate on theWest Highland Line.[citation needed]
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Having originally been based in theEast Anglia region but later transferred away, in early 2005 they returned whenOne received nine fromCentral Trains in exchange for a similar number ofClass 150s.[28]
The units were used on the following local services:
as well as the longer distance services betweenIpswich toCambridge/Peterborough.
All nine passed toAbellio Greater Anglia when it took over theGreater Anglia franchise in February 2012. Despite being overhauled byRailcare Wolverton in 2012/13, including work to make them comply with disability legislation, all were replaced byClass 755s with the last day of service being 29 January 2020.[29][30] These then moved toEast Midlands Railway,[31] where they were renumbered into the 156/9 subclass.[15]
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Following privatisation, bothArriva Trains Northern andFirst North Western operated Class 156s and implemented their own refurbishment programmes. The two fleets were united whenNorthern 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 theEsk Valley line.[32] In 2011 four were transferred toEast Midlands Trains.[33]
In January 2015, Northern Rail began to hire 156s toFirst TransPennine Express to operateManchester Airport toBlackpool North services.[34] Northern Rail's fleet of 42 Class 156s passed toArriva Rail North when the then-new franchise started on 1 April 2016. The 156s began to operate Manchester Airport toBarrow in Furness andOxenholme toWindermere services from this date after they along with the Manchester Airport to Blackpool North services were transferred to the franchise.[35]
An additional five Class 156 units transferred to Northern fromAbellio ScotRail in late 2018.[26] On 1 March 2020 the Northern units were transferred to new operatorNorthern Trains.
Fifteen Class 156s were transferred fromEast Midlands Railway toNorthern Trains. These units included the nine Class 156/9s formerly used byAbellio Greater Anglia.[36] Some of these units were already with Northern Trains.[37] 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.[38] In March 2023 another unit was transferred.[39]
In 1997,Central Trains inherited twenty units fromRegional Railways[40] 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 ofScotRailClass 158s, with 156402 partially repainted in ScotRail colours in readiness when overhauled atWabtec, Doncaster.[41] The transfer did not proceed after theScottish 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 toOne during early 2005, in exchange for a similar number ofClass 150s.[28]
At the end of the Central Trains franchise, the remaining 11 units were transferred toEast Midlands Trains, who repainted the fleet during 2008[42] and then carried out a refurbishment program from autumn 2010 onwards.[43] The refurbishment, carried out atNeville Hill depot, included interior refurbishment work, improvements to driving cabs and installation of CCTV.[44][45] These trains were used on slower medium-distance services such asNottingham/Derby toMatlock, Nottingham toSkegness,Leicester toLincoln and Nottingham toWorksop. In May 2011, four additional units were transferred fromNorthern Rail to allow Nottingham toLiverpool services to be strengthened.[45]
Beginning in late 2019, the nine class 156s transferred toAbellio Greater Anglia in 2005, passed toEast Midlands Railway.[46] 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 atBarrow Hill, withEast Midlands Railway stating that they will be moved to Ely Papworth sidings at a later date.[47]
| Class | Operator | Qty. | Year built | Cars | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 156/0 | Northern Trains | 67 | 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, 156478–156491, 156496[16][48][49][50][51][52][53] |
| ScotRail | 42 | 156430–156437, 156439, 156442, 156445–156446, 156450, 156453, 156456–156458, 156462, 156467, 156474, 156476–156477, 156492–156495, 156499–156514[citation needed] | |||
| Stored | 4 | 156470, 156473, 156497–156498[54][55] | |||
| 156/9 | Parts source | 1 | 156907, moved toHeaton TMD November 2025[56] |
Some units have received names:
| Operating company | Livery |
|---|---|
| Regional Railways |  |
| Arriva Trains Northern |  |
| Northern Rail |  |
| Arriva Rail North |  |
| Northern Trains |  |
| Abellio Greater Anglia |  |
| One |  |
| National Express |  |
| East Midlands Railway |  |
| First North Western |  |
Lima producedOO gauge models of Class 156 units, with sixteen variants available in total.[74] Some of these models were subsequently relaunched byHornby Railways in 2006.[75]
Realtrack Models released their own OO-gauge Class 156 models in 2017, in Regional Railways Provincial, First ScotRail, and East Midlands Trains liveries.[76]
Media related toBritish Rail Class 156 at Wikimedia Commons