Pacer

  • Pacers delivered to Gobowen for Cambrian Heritage Railways

    Pacers delivered to Gobowen for Cambrian Heritage Railways

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    Cambrian Heritage Railways (CHR) has acquired a pair of Class 144 Pacer diesel railbuses from Porterbrook leasing. Nos. 144006/7 travelled under their own power by rail to Gobowen from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway on Friday, May 22, saving four separate lorry moves. The entire 23-strong class has recently been stored on the popular…

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  • ‘Pacers’ to work with PRM compliant units

    ‘Pacers’ to work with PRM compliant units

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    GWR and Northern have indicated how they will combat restrictions placed on the use of Class 142-144 ‘Pacer’ units from January 1, 2020. Both will run a non-compliant ‘Pacer’ with a compliant unit of another type to provide accommodation for passengers with limited mobility and also access to a fully accessible toilet. The restrictions have…

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  • Classic stations: Newcastle Central

    Classic stations: Newcastle Central

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    Newcastle Central is a listed building, the city’s major transport hub, and acts as both a terminus and a through station. Graeme Pickering recalls the station’s impressive past and assesses plans recently outlined for the future. NEWCASTLE Central station is widely regarded as one of the finest in the country. Its neo-classical frontage and sheer…

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  • Northern withdraws first batch of ‘Pacers’

    Northern withdraws first batch of ‘Pacers’

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    NORTHERN has withdrawn the first its Class 142 ‘Pacer’ units – 11 months later than planned.  The first was scheduled for retirement in September 2018, but late delivery and acceptance of replacement units gave the ‘Pacers’ a stay of execution.  Unit No. 142005 was ‘retired’ on August 12, with Northern holding a ceremony at Manchester Victoria…

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  • Northern choose Doncaster and Preston for ‘195’ and ‘331’ launches

    Northern choose Doncaster and Preston for ‘195’ and ‘331’ launches

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    NORTHERN Rail’s Class 195 DMU and Class 331 EMU were due to be launched on June 26 and June 28, at Preston and Doncaster, respectively.  CAF is building 58 Class 195 (25 two- and 33 three-car) and 43 Class 331s (31 three- and 12 four-car) units for Northern.  Their introduction, on a rolling basis, will…

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  • Late start for new trains puts ‘Pacer’ withdrawal months behind schedule

    Late start for new trains puts ‘Pacer’ withdrawal months behind schedule

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    PLANS to withdraw the first Northern Rail ‘Pacers’ at the end of September 2018 have missed their scheduled date by four months. The plan, published by the DfT, was for five two-car Class 144s to start the ball rolling on the withdrawal programme back in September, with all two-car sets out of traffic by January…

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