Operations
Almost all First Transpennine Express Services are operated by 185s, except for the Manchester Piccadilly – Hull service which are mostly run by a Class 170 Turbostar train. This is due to the speed and weight problems between Selby and Hull. Class 170's also operate a few of the services between Manchester Airport and Cleethorpes via Doncaster and on some Sunday only services between Manchester and York but this has met with criticism as this has resulted in further overcrowding on an already congested route.
To free up stock for Manchester Airport to Scotland services, First TransPennine Express dramatically decreased the frequency of the Manchester Airport to Windermere route from 9 December 2007. This means that 185s are now used on the relatively short journeys of Preston to Windermere, approximately one hour in length, and the shorter journey of Oxenholme to Windermere of twenty minutes.
The 185s are seen as too small for many of the TransPennine Express services, and it was suggested in 2008 that eight-carriage units will be needed by 2014 which will need to have a top speed of at least 100 mph (160 km/h) to meet targets for reducing journey times. However, in 2009 further electrification of lines in the North West was announced, including the Manchester to Preston Line, the missing link non-electric section on services between Manchester and Scotland. On completion of electrification, TransPennine services between Manchester and Scotland will be operated by a new build of four-car 110mph Class 350 Desiro electric multiple units. The Blackpool Branch Lines will also be electrified, enabling Manchester-Blackpool services to also switch, though this will be after the end of the current TransPennine Express franchise. Electrification will enable the diesel stock currently used on these services to be transferred to other services, likely eliminating the need to order new diesel carriages.
Read more about this topic: British Rail Class 185
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