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First ScotRail's 156450 was released from the Bombardier works at Derby on 13th, and is the first to receive the extra interior work. The interior has been given a full repaint, seat shells have been renewed, and the seat covers and carpet are now in First group colours. This is in addition to new lighting, overhead luggage racks, table tops, and wall cloth which the other 19 units received in 2006.

At the toilet end of vehicle 52450, two seats and a large table have been removed to create a dedicated wheelchair space which has its own table. A second unit, 156446 was completed on February 27th, whilst 156492 was sent from Corkerhill to Derby on Tuesday 21st (photo), and 156458 went south on Wednesday 28th.

• Northern Rail. Another overhaul has been completed at Glasgow Works. 156491 was released on February 27th, and 156482 entered the works the following day.

• one railway. 156411 was returned to Central trains at Nottingham on Saturday 10th. It was attached to the 11:56 Norwich - Liverpool Lime Street (photo)

January 2007

Due to having a class 170 away for crash damage repairs, One Railway took 156411 on loan from Central Trains, for an expected period of 4 weeks. On Friday 5th January, 156411 was attached to 170399 on 1L19 11:52 Liverpool-Norwich at Nottingham for the transfer move. After arrival at Norwich, 156411 formed 2S28 17:45 Norwich - Sherringham. 156411 photographed leading 170399 at Peterborough on the 1L19. Photo: Ryan Tranmer

• First ScotRail. Unit 156446 went south to Derby on January 2nd for further refurbishment work by Bombardier. 156450 remains at Derby, and is due for release on February 13th.

Other First ScotRail sets are having Passenger Information Systems fitted at Corkerhill depot.

156496 was an unusual visitor to Lanark, on January 24, believed to be on a driver training run. This branchline terminus usually sees only Electric Multiple Units.

• Northern Rail. C6 overhauls continue at Glasgow Works. 156470 was released in the first week of January, 156479 was overhauled and released on January 30th (photo), with 156491 entering the works the following day.

December 2006

156507 at Edinburgh Waverley on December 11, 2006 A newly fitted antenna for the GSM-R radio can be seen on the roof above and right of the door.

• First ScotRail. Transport Scotland are funding further work on the ScotRail 156s. [Press release]

'156 refurb worth £2.7 million: Twenty (two car) units will receive new seating, improved lighting and furnishings, new table tops, carpeting throughout, and inclusion of wheelchair space.'

The new lighting, however, seems to have already been fitted at Derby during 2006.

156485 returned to Corkerhill from Derby on 5th December (photo). 156450 remains at Derby.

• Northern Rail. A points failure at Annan on the morning of Thursday 7th December, resulted in two 156s appearing in unusual surroundings.

156487, at Dumfries to work 07:30 to Carlisle (and later on to Leeds), was unable to head south.

SPT unit 156439 on the 1S50 06:35 Newcastle - Glasgow was terminated at Carlisle, then worked the 08:53 Carlisle - Leeds and 12:49 Leeds - Carlisle return.

Northern's 156487 meanwhile restarted the 1S50 to Glasgow Central from Annan. It then returned to Carlisle (presumably on the 12:03 from Glasgow) for the units to swap over.

November 2006

Odd one out at Corkerhill depot. 156450, the last in the old ScotRail livery, with 156462,477,457 in First livery on 22 November 2006. 156450 went south to Derby Works the next day. This unit, which had a non-standard interior, is to have additional refurbishment work done, and is not expected to return until February 2007. Photo: Dave Coddington

• First ScotRail. A further three 156s were repainted into First 'barbie' livery at Derby Litchurch Lane in November.

156493, returned to Corkerhill on Thursday 2nd, 156465, returned on Monday 13th (Photo), and 156474, south on 3rd and north on Tuesday 21st (Photo),

The last two units in the programme were at Derby Litchurch lane at the end of October. 156485 arrived on 14th, and 156450 arrived on 23rd.

• Units in the SPT fleet are starting to receive GSM-R radios at Corkerhill.

• Northern Rail's 156473 ran to Glasgow works on 11th November, for a C6 overhaul, and 156484 has returned to traffic.

156424 suffered a graffiti attack early in October, and during the clean-up lost the barbie stripes on the left hand side of 57424. The unit was photographed at Blackpool North carriage sidings on 25 November. Photo: Nodding Donkey

• one railway. 156416 was named 'Saint Edmund' at Ipswich on Tuesday 28. [news item]. The nameplates are applied to both sides of car 52416, and the unit was in traffic from Norwich on the Monday. 156416 is seen at Norwich on November 27, 2006. Photo: Top Can

156407 suffered a damaged cab roof on Thursday 9th, while working the 10.16 Ipswich - Cambridge. It struck overhead line equipment brought down by the preceding London - Norwich train, near Needham Market. The unit was photographed under repair at Norwich Crown Point depot on 14 November. Photo: Top Can

Reports from Northern Railway Forum and Class_156_Sprinters, Scot-Rail, Northern_Rail, Anglia-Gen.


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