The Anonymous Widower

Class 319 Flex Trains Could Be In Service By December 2017

I have just seen a an early copy of Porterbrook’s brochure for their new Class 319 Flex train.

On the summary page, the following is said.

4 units in service by December 2017

On the North-West Electrification page of the Network Rail web site, these electrification milestones are given.

• December 2017 – Preston to Manchester and Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge
• Early 2018 – Preston to Blackpool

It would appear that the delivery of the trains and the availability of electrified lines are not a bad fit.

I estimate that three Class 319 Flex trains will be needed to provide an hourly service to Blackpool from either Liverpool or Manchester, before Preston to Blackpool is electrified.

But once Blackpool to Preston is electrified, Blackpool, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston would be linked by standard Class 319 trains, releasing the Class 319 Flex trains to develop other routes from the core electrified network.

• Barrow-in-Furness – Electrified to Carnforth
• Buxton – Electrified to Hazel Grove
• Huddersfield – Electrified to Stalybridge
• Kirkby – Electrified to Bolton
• Southport – Electrified to Bolton
• Windermere – Electrified to Oxenholme Lake District

Places like Blackburn, Burnley, Clitheroe and even Hebden Bridge and Todmorden could be reached from the electrification at Bolton, Manchester or Preston.

The electrified network will be grown, by the selective addition of electrification and/or trains.

March 3, 2017 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Class 319 Flex (Class 769) Train, Electrification, Trains