Central Trains - 156 Super-Sprinter

 156 home page

Central Trains leased 20 Class 156 units from Porterbrook. This reduced to 11 units in 2005 following reallocations to 'one'.

The 20 units were refurbished by ADtranz at Doncaster Works between 1995 and early 1998. The programme started before Central Trains was privatised and unit 156.402 was the first to be completed, returning to traffic in September 1995.

Since 2003 the units have been undergoing C6 overhauls at Wabtec Doncaster, and in the process repainted into Central Trains' green livery.

156.402 (now transfered to 'one') returned from overhaul painted white with purple roof and doors.

 
156.407 at Nottingham

156.407 at Nottingham, 20 July 2002, with a service to Cardiff

This unit was an early recepient of the green colour scheme following accident repairs in October 1999.

The second of the class in green was 156.410 in August 2003.

 
156

When the 20 Central units were refurbished in the late 1990s, they were painted into 'Express' livery.

156.405 departs Birmingham New Street for Lincoln on February 15, 2003.

 
inside 52418

During refurbishment new Chapman seats were fitted, covered with standard Regional Railways moquette of light and dark blue spots on a grey base.

The units also received carpeting over the end walls, central pillars, and heating ducts.

The interior of the toilets were refitted in similar style to the Tickford prototype.

The new look is completed with the fitting of diffused lighting.



Accomodation

Units (Central Trains scheme) Seating Capacity DMS(A) details DMS(B) details
156.401,402,403,404,405,406,407,
156.408,409,410,411,412,413,414,
156.415,416,417,418,419,422
148 seats 72 Standard seats,
luggage stack,
toilet. 		76 Standard seats,
luggage van with parcel shelf


Allocation and Duties

TS Tyseley, Birmingham 11 units
156.401,403,404,405,406,408,410,411,413,414,415

Central's units are allocated to Tyseley, but are also serviced at Eastcroft depot Nottingham.

The class 156 units are deployed on secondary services, particularly in the East Midlands.

Typical duties include Crewe - Derby - Skegness, Nottingham - Worksop, Leicester - Loughborough.

However they have frequently deputised for class 170 and 158 units on longer distance runs such as Liverpool to Stansted Airport, and Nottingham to Cardiff.

Before the realloactions to 'one' in 2005, the class had duties from Birmingham to Shrewsbury and Stafford.

The routes beyond Shrewsbury to Chester, Aberystwyth and Pwllheli were operated by 156s before they became part of the Wales and Borders franchise in October 2001.


• Central Trains Class 156 diagrams