The Anonymous Widower

Is This Really A Pacer In A New Outfit?

I don’t like Pacers, which I often refer to as scrapyard specials, as in most cases those places should be their next destination.

Today, my heart sank as the conductor of a crowded Class 158 train at Rotherham Central station, refused entry to the train to proceed to Sheffield.

I knew what would happen and it did!

Ten minutes later and a dreaded Pacer in the form of Class 144 train hove into view. But at least it was four carriages and it would take the happy remnants of the Ipswich away supporters to Steel City!

Only after I’d been sitting in the last coach for a couple of minutes did I realise this was not an ordinary Pacer, as the seats were like Noah’s animals in a 2×2 formation and it looked like the paint and seats and their covers were all new. Above our heads was  a new digital display informing the occupants of the route. This was much needed,  as this particular train circumnavigated a large portion of South Yorkshire.

I took these pictures.

I had heard of the E for Evolution version of the Class 144 train before! So were we all travelling in the prototype of this train?

The pictures confirm we were.

Some other points.

• Passengers seemed to be suffering from New Train Syndrome, judging by the surprised look on their faces.
• The train sounded like a Pacer, but perhaps a bit quieter.
• Ride seemed better, than the standard Class 144 train I took to get to Rotherham. Perhaps, the maintenance engineers had tightened the nuts and tweaked the bogies or something?
• I spoke to a few passengers, who I reckoned would know nothing of the project to create the Class 144E and they seemed impressed and felt the train was a lot better than the ones they normally travel on.
• The train had the clearest information display, I’ve seen on any train. This near seventy-year-old with stroke-damaged eyesight loved it!

This Class 144 E design could convert the twenty-three Class 144 trains into something that meets the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Interoperable Rail System) Regulations. Wikipedia says this about the train.

The demonstrator Class 144e unit (144012) features a number of upgrades such as the addition of new 2+2 style seating, a fully accessible toilet, two wheelchair spaces and spaces for bicycles and luggage. as well as Wi-Fi and media screens.

It has one problem!

The politicians have said the Pacers would be gone.

But to replace them with new electric trains and put up all that overhead wiring, would  cost a fortune and more importantly take a long time.

However in the short term, an upgrade of the Class 144 trains would improve the lot of passengers some way towards the level of new trains.

So would politicians be prepared to do a U-turn and upgrade the Pacers?

Ian Walmsley in Modern Railways has said that this demonstrator is a good start and the lessons learned should be applied to upgrading other multiple units like the various Class 15X trains.

But he doubts the economics and reliability.

For myself, if I was the Transport Secretary I would take a pragmatic decision, as we desperately need more trains.

I would convert perhaps five or six of the Class 144 trains and use them on routes with severe capacity problems or train shortages. Passengers would be surveyed and a detailed analysis of all the results would be published.

I might even put a set on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line, where they would be compared to modern Class 172 trains. It would be a tough ask, but after what I experienced today, it wouldn’t be the unfair fight it would be with the standard Class 144.

Only then would a final decision be made as to whether all Class 144 trains were upgraded or scrapped!

November 7, 2015 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Pacer, Trains