1. Description

2. Operations
     Regional Railways    Post privatisation    Wales    Midlands    South West England    Northern England    East Anglia  

3. Fleet
     Named units  

4. Future

5. Railway models

6. References
     Sources  

The British Rail Class 153 Super Sprinter are single-coach Railcars converted from two-coach Class 155s diesel multiple units. The class was intended for service on rural and branch lines where passenger numbers do not justify longer trains.

Description

In 1987/88, British Rail (BR) took delivery of 35 two-coach Class 155 units built by Leyland Bus at its Workington factory.^[1] to replace older Regional Railways DMUs. Shortly after, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (WYPTE) took delivery of seven two-coach units for use in Yorkshire. After the Class 155s entered service, it became an emerging requirement for ageing rural and branch line trains to be replaced. In the early 1990s, British Rail decided to convert the Regional Railways Class 155 fleet into single-coach multiple units and to replace its fleet of Class 121 and 122 diesel railcars.^[9]

In 1990, British Rail awarded a contract to Hunslet-Barclay with the work completed in 1991/92.^[9] A total of 70 single-coach Class 153 multiple units were created which were numbered in the range 153301-335 and 153351-385. Individual coaches are numbered 52301-335 and 57351-385 (originally 57301-335). The seven WYPTE Class 155s were not modified and remained as two-coach Class 155 multiple units.^[10]

The new, small cab is significantly smaller than the original Leyland cab and encroaches on the door vestibule area, providing cramped conditions for drivers and guards. Similar to other Sprinter family units, such as Classes 150/2, 156, 158 and 159, these units have gangway door connections at either end that allow passengers and staff to walk between units working in multiple. These units also have the benefit of passenger door control panels at either end of the cars.

Operations

Regional Railways

Pre-privatisation, Regional Railways operated Class 153s on many branch lines throughout the Midlands, Wales and Northern England. They were initially allocated to Heaton (15), Cardiff Canton (9), Plymouth Laira (10), Crown Point (16) and Tyseley (20).^[9] Due to their multiple working ability, Class 153s were often seen with other classes of sprinter units such as Class 156s and Class 150s. Class 153s were often found working services from;

• {{Stnlnk|Newcastle}} to {{Stnlnk|Carlisle}}
• {{Stnlnk|Peterborough}} to {{Stnlnk|Lincoln Central}}
• {{Stnlnk|Nottingham}} to {{Stnlnk|Birmingham New Street}} (via Leicester)
• {{Stnlnk|Crewe}} to {{Stnlnk|Derby}}
• {{Stnlnk|Ipswich}} to {{Stnlnk|Lowestoft}} and {{Stnlnk|Felixstowe}}
• {{Stnlnk|Norwich}} to {{Stnlnk|Great Yarmouth}} and {{Stnlnk|Sheringham}}

The class was a common sight in Regional Railways areas.

Post privatisation

Upon privatisation of British Rail, the Class 153 fleet was divided amongst several operators.

Wales

Transport for Wales has a fleet of eight Class 153s. They are normally used on rural branch lines – such as the Heart of Wales Line from {{Stnlnk|Shrewsbury}} to {{Stnlnk|Swansea}} and on local stopping services from {{Stnlnk|Crewe}} to {{Stnlnk|Shrewsbury}} via {{Stnlnk|Nantwich}} – but are also used on some mainline services. One is used daily on the short Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay shuttle.

Following a timetable change in December 2007, then-operator Arriva Trains Wales lost three Class 153 units. Two were transferred to East Midlands Trains with the other going to Great Western Railway.

Midlands

West Midlands Trains use ten Class 153 DMUs on commuter lines in the West Midlands including the Coventry to Nuneaton Line and the Marston Vale Line between Bedford and Bletchley.

All ten 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 {{brc|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^[11] and the service finally began three months later.^[12]

East Midlands Trains' fleet of Class 153s are used on rural routes:

• Nottingham to Worksop (one diagram uses two units)
• Nottingham to Matlock via Derby
• Nottingham to Skegness (only coupled onto other units or if the {{brc|156}} or {{brc|158}} fails)
• Leicester to Lincoln Central (only coupled onto other units or if the {{brc|156}} or {{brc|158}} fails)
• Peterborough to Lincoln Central and Doncaster
• Newark North Gate to Grimsby Town (to Cleethorpes after 1900 and during summer)
• Derby to Crewe via Stoke-on-Trent

SUMMER ONLY:

Nottingham to Cleethorpes

via Newark North Gate, Lincoln Central & Grimsby Town (often with another 153 or 156/158)

East Midlands Trains inherited many examples of Class 153 units, receiving six from Central Trains, three from National Express East Anglia and four from storage at Eastleigh Works (formerly in service with Great Western Railway). In December 2007, East Midlands Trains received two more Class 153 units from Arriva Trains Wales and two more trains from Northern Rail.

All of the East Midlands Trains Class 153 units have been repainted into the local lines livery of the company.

In July 2010, the first unit 153319 entered Neville Hill depot in Leeds for a C6 refresh programme. The work included corrosion repair, internal refresh and a cab refurbishment programme.^[13]

South West England

Great Western Railway 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.

Units are used on local services in Cornwall, Devon, and around Bristol. They are also used on Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth, Southampton Central, and Worcester Foregate Street services, and the Swindon via Melksham to Southampton Central service.

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, Great Western Railway 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 (EZ) depot for the duration. This allocation was eventually made permanent as a result of London Midland keeping three Class 150 units after the new Class 172 units entered service.

Northern England

The Northern Rail franchise started operations in December 2004. They 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 Northern operates the largest fleet of Class 153 units.

Northern inherited a fleet of eight units from FNW, which were used on local services around Manchester, {{Stnlnk|Chester}} and on {{Stnlnk|Lancaster}} and {{Stnlnk|Barrow-in-Furness}} to {{Stnlnk|Carlisle}} and {{stnlnk|Preston}} to {{Stnlnk|Ormskirk}} services. The fleet was repainted in the now obsolete North Western Trains blue and gold livery. Prior to becoming part of Northern, 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 were inherited from ATN. They are used on various local services around {{Stnlnk|Leeds}}, {{stnlnk|Doncaster}} and {{Stnlnk|Sheffield}}. One regular job is the {{stnlnk|Cleethorpes}} to {{Stnlnk|Barton-on-Humber}} services, which see a unit stable at Cleethorpes overnight and Sunday. Other jobs are the {{Stnlnk|Lincoln}} to {{Stnlnk|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 and transferred to East Midlands Trains.

East Anglia

Anglia Railways inherited a small fleet of seven units, for local services in Suffolk and Norfolk. Services operated by these units included Ipswich to Cambridge, Peterborough, Felixstowe and Lowestoft, and Norwich to Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and Cromer. One set was also hired to First Great Eastern for use on the Gainsborough line.

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's Class 153s commenced, which included new interior panels, tables, carpets and lighting. All are scheduled to be replaced by Class 755s in 2020.^[14][15]

Fleet

Class 153 consists of 70 single-car units converted in 1991–92 from {{brc|155}} two-car units.

Named units

Some units have received names:^[16]

• 153309 – Gerard Fiennes
• 153316 – John "Longitude" Harrison - inventor of the Marine Chronometer
• 153322 – Benjamin Britten
• 153335 – Michael Palin
• 153362 – Dylan Thomas 1915–1953 (denamed)
• 153369 – Pamela Anderson
• 153376 – X24 – Expeditious
• 153383 – Ecclesbourne Valley Railway 150 Years^[17]

Future

In 2019, Great Western Railway's last five 153s will move to Transport for Wales while five will move from Northern to Abellio ScotRail for use on the West Highland Line attached to the Class 156.^[18][19]

Railway models

When the units were first introduced, Hurst models produced a detailing kit to convert a Dapol model of a 155 into a 153.^[20]

The Class 153 has been produced in OO scale by Hornby. The following liveries are/were available; Central Trains, First Northern Star, 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). These models have been praised for their detail.^[21]

More recently, Dapol have announced a N Scale version.^[22]

Making Tracks have a digital model available for the PC Railway simulator Microsoft Train Simulator.^[23]

Just Trains has released a digital model for the PC railway simulator Railworks.

References

Sources

• {{cite book|title=DMUs & Channel Tunnel Stock|series=British Railways Pocket Book No.3|first1=Peter|last1=Fox|first2=Barry|last2=Hughes|publisher=Platform 5|edition=7th|year=1994|isbn=978-1-872524-59-7|ref=harv}}
• {{cite book|title=Traction Recognition|first=Colin J.|last=Marsden|publisher=Ian Allan|edition=2nd|year=2011|isbn=978-0-7110-3494-5|ref=harv}}
• {{cite book |last=Marsden |first=Colin J. |title=Traction Recognition|edition=3rd|year=2014 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=Surrey|isbn=978-0-7110-3792-2|ref=harv }}

• California Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 1994
• California Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 1998
• California Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 2002
• California Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 2006
• California Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 2010
• California Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 2014
• California Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 2018
• California swordfern
• California sword fern
• California textbook controversy over South Asian topics (2016-2017)
• California Theatre (San Jose)
• California (There Is No End to Love)
• California (There Is No End To Love)
• California (There Is no End to Love)
• California (The Way I Say I Love You)
• California (Tim McGraw song)
• California Toll Bridge Authority
• California Tortoiseshell
• California Tour
• California Township, Madison County, Arkansas
• California trapdoor spider
• California Typewriter
• California-UCLA football rivalry
• California-Ukraine National Guard Partnership
• California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board