British Rail Class 142

British Rail Class 142 Pacer
Arriva Trains Wales refurbished Class 142 Pacer No. 142077 at Penarth. The refurbished interior of an Arriva Trains Wales Class 142.
In service	1985–Present
Manufacturer	BREL Derby and Leyland Bus
Built at	Derby
Family name	Pacer
Constructed	1985–1987 [1]
Refurbishment	1997–2003 - 2008–Present
Number built	96
Number in service	94
Number scrapped	2
Formation	2 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	142001–142096
Capacity	102[2] to 121 seats per trainset
Operator	Arriva Trains Wales First Great Western Northern Rail
Line(s) served	Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Teeside,Tyne & Wear, Valley Lines, Yorkshire
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel
Articulated sections	Flexible diaphragm within unit only
Maximum speed	75 mph (120 km/h)
Weight	48.23 t (47.47 LT; 53.16 ST) per trainset
Engine(s)	Cummins LTA10-R (Originally Leyland TL11)
Safety system(s)	AWS, TPWS
Coupling system	BSI[3]
Gauge	1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)

The British Rail Class 142 is a class of Pacer diesel multiple units used in the United Kingdom. 96 units were built by BREL in Derby between 1985 and 1987. They were a development of the earlier Class 141 which were introduced in 1984.

They were initially built for use on rural branch lines. However, as of May 2009 they are mainly used on busy commuter routes in the major cities in the north of England, alongside some branch lines in South Wales and Devon.

Contents 1 Description 2 Upgrades and refurbishments 3 Accidents 4 Operations 4.1 Northern England 4.1.1 Merseyside 4.2 Wales 4.3 Southern England 5 Gallery 6 Fleet details 7 In model form 8 References

Description

The train body is based on that of the original designs of Thomas Kenneth Cullum and the Leyland National bus, many fixtures and fittings of the bus can be found on the trains.^[4][5] Each train has a seating capacity of any number between 102^[2] and 121 passengers per two-car set. In theory there should be 106 or 121 seats per unit.^[6] However, many units have had seats removed to provide additional space for wheel chair access^{[citation needed]}. The same engines and mechanical transmissions were used as on Class 141, as well as the double-folding external doors.

Upgrades and refurbishments

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2009)

The class was upgraded in the early 1990s. This was after a number of problems were experienced with the mechanical transmission and engines (including complete seizures), and now all units carry a more powerful engine - 460bhp (340 kW) per unit - and Voith two stage hydraulic transmission, starting with a torque converter which switches to fluid coupling drive once the unit is up to 45 miles per hour (72 km/h). This has proven very successful, although incidents have occurred. In 2002 a North Western Trains unit derailed on the Carlisle to Whitehaven line when its engine fell off the chassis, and then a similar incident occurred when a Northern Rail unit derailed while on route from Blackpool to Liverpool in June 2009.^[7]

Detail modification is the replacing of the unreliable double folding doors with standard rigid folding examples used on Class 143 and 144 Pacers. The trains have also had new fire extinguisher equipment fitted, and more importantly, the replacement of the cable worked brakes by direct acting brakes. Fifteen Valley Lines operated Pacers have been refurbished. This included an external relivery into the Valley Lines colours of red, white lime green and green. The doors were painted in lime green due to requirements by the 1998 Disability Discrimination Act.

The interior refurbishment included the following:

• Installation of non slip vinyl flooring
• Replacement of the existing 2+3 bench style bus seats with Chapman bespoke high backed seats to the 2+2 layout
• Repainted dado side panels and wall ends
• Installation of DPTAC 'easy to see, easy to press' yellow tactile LED Passenger Door Control buttons on a raised rubber surface surround

Accidents

There have been a number of accidents involving Class 142 Pacer trains since their introduction, the most serious of which happened at Winsford in 1999. The driver of a First North Western unit running empty from Crewe to Liverpool Lime Street overran a red signal on the slow line and stopped in the path of the 06:15 London Euston to Glasgow Central Virgin Trains express, hauled by a Class 87 electric locomotive.^[8] The impact, which wrote the unit off, severed the Pacer's body from its frames, causing severe internal damage, raising the question of whether Pacers are crashworthy.^[9]

On 11 June 2009, a 142 (Class 142042) operated by Northern Rail derailed while on route from Blackpool to Liverpool. All 40 passengers on board escaped serious injury, but one person was taken to hospital with minor injuries. An investigation is currently being carried out, but it has been suspected that a major problem with the engine occurred as passengers saw large parts of it on the track. Problems with engines on 142s have been experienced before.^[10]

The ensuing report recommended that they be withdrawn and replaced in the near future with heavier more sturdy Sprinters.^{[citation needed]} However, as there are no spare Sprinters available, only 142008 & 142059 have been withdrawn both through accident damage. 142059 was withdrawn in 1990 after colliding with the buffer stops at Liverpool Lime Street. The train had runaway down the hill from Edge Hill whilst returning with brake problems. The train was running without passengers at the time and the driver and guard both survived the accident without serious lasting injury. The platforms were evacuated in time before the train struck the buffers.

John Pugh, the Liberal Democrat MP for Southport, has described the 142 trains as "unsafe". However the UK Government's Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon denied this claim saying, "I would not accept that any of that rolling stock is unsafe", and that they constantly upgrade them. MP John Pugh added that these trains were exacerbating the overcrowding situation due to the lack of seating and space on board them. He is continuing to work to try to get the trains replaced, especially as passenger numbers are expected to increase in the next few years.^[11][12]

Operations

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2009)

The first sets were used initially on suburban commuter services in the north-west and Devon and Cornwall branch lines, with later-built units concentrated on West and South Yorkshire.

Northern England

Northern Rail (the franchise incorporating services previously operated by First North Western and Arriva Trains Northern) operates a fleet of 68 Class 142s.

Of the 68 Class 142s, most have been repainted in Northern Rail's dark blue and purple livery, with a small number retaining the Arriva Trains Northern livery. 142009 is named "Newton Heath 125 1876-2001".

Due to rising passenger numbers in the north of England (by about 10% per annum and even by over 25% per annum at some stations where 142s are in operation)^[5] some have been replaced by Sprinter trains^[13] and there are plans to replace more 142s.

Five 142s in service with First Great Western were returned to Northern Rail in December 2008, a further two have been released from the Oldham Loop on the 3rd October 2009, when the track closed for the Manchester Metrolink to start the conversion of the line to light rail. This means Northern has seven extra 142s to use on other services.

Despite being built for branch line stopping services 142s are mainly used urban commuter services in and out of cities like Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle and can be seen on longer distance services of up to three hours including the 0656 Middlesbrough-Carlisle service (nearly 110 mi (180 km)) and had been used on services between Blackpool North to Chester via Stockport, which ceased to operate in December 2008.

Class 142s have operated the following routes:

• Bishop Auckland to Saltburn
• Blackpool South to Colne
• Carlisle to Newcastle
• Carlisle to Lancaster, via Barrow
• Chester to Manchester Piccadilly via Altrincham ^[5]
• Hexham to Middlesbrough
• Heysham Port to Lancaster
• Huddersfield to Manchester Victoria
• Huddersfield to Sheffield
• Huddersfield to Liverpool Lime Street
• Hull to York via Selby
• Leeds to Huddersfield
• Leeds to Sheffield via Barnsley (stopping service)
• Leeds to Sheffield via Wakefield Westgate (stopping service)
• Leeds to York via Harrogate
• Lincoln Central to Sheffield
• Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Oxford Road via Warrington Central
• Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Victoria, Stalybridge and Huddersfield
• Liverpool Lime Street to Warrington Bank Quay
• Manchester Piccadilly to Marple, Rose Hill Marple, New Mills Central
• Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield (the Hope Valley line)
• Manchester Victoria to Kirkby and Southport
• Manchester Victoria to Leeds via Brighouse
• Manchester Victoria to Leeds via Halifax
• Manchester Victoria to Rochdale
• Metrocentre and Newcastle to Morpeth
• Sheffield to Scunthorpe
• Stockport to Stalybridge (NB: One train a week in one direction only)
• Wakefield to Selby via Huddersfield and Bradford

Northern had wished to dispense with Pacers altogether by 2011. However, it now looks unlikely that they will be dispensed of before the end of the Northern franchise in 2014. The 142s currently used on the Huddersfield to Sheffield line will be replaced by tram-trains.^[14]

Merseyside

A number of trains were refurbished for use on the Merseyside PTE City Lines around Liverpool which included dot-matrix route indicators, a new design of seating and Merseyrail paintwork. All these sets are now with Northern Rail and are in the their livery.

Wales

Arriva Trains Wales use their Class 142 Pacer trains on the commuter lines around Cardiff known as the Valley Lines. All of their Class 142 Pacer fleet now bear the turquoise and cream house colours of Arriva Trains Wales.

Class 142 units are primarily used on South Wales Valley line routes and routes through the Vale of Glamorgan. The Wales and Borders franchise does not specify the introduction of new rolling stock and Class 142s are likely to be in service until at least 2018. On Valley and Vale of Glamorgan services Class 142s are often coupled together with class 143 or Class 150 units to cope with demand on the busy Valley Lines network. The Class 142s have received a minor refurbishment inclduding the installation of ceiling mounted CCTV cameras.

Southern England

The initial production of class 142s gave some units for use on branchlines in the South-West of England, the units from Cornwall were eventually moved north after problems with excessive wheel wear on the sharp curves of the Cornish branches with Class 150 Sprinter units being sent in the other direction to replace them. Excessive squeaking on sharp corners is also a problem on many routes operated by 142s. ^[15] due to the non articulated long wheelbase 2 axle wheel arrangement. However, contrary to media reporting in the South West this is just as common in the north of England.

Twelve Class 142 Pacers were received by First Great Western in 2007, and started operations in December 2007. These were former Northern Rail trains that were cascaded off certain routes due to the units being too small for the number of passengers they needed to carry.

Five 142s were returned to Northern Rail in the Autumn of 2008, following First Great Western's refresh of Class 150 Sprinter units. The remaining seven units will be returned to Northern Rail before the December 2010 timetable change. There have been conflicting reports about what they will be replaced by, some sources suggest cascaded 150s from London Midland, while other sources are saying it will be brand new units, that were originally intended to go to Northern Rail to ease overcrowing, with the London Midland 150s going to Northern Rail instead for that purpose. The remaining units have had a light refresh of new seat covers and an internal repaint.

The 142s work alongside the similar Class 143s. The units have been used on the following services:

• Avocet Line Exmouth - Exeter St. Davids
• Riviera Line Exeter St. Davids - Newton Abbot - Paignton
• Tarka Line Barnstaple - Exeter St. Davids

Maintenance is carried out at Exeter TMD.

Gallery

First Great Western Class 142 Pacer No. 142009 at Exeter St. Davids.	The refreshed interior of a First Great Western Class 142 Pacer.	An Arriva Trains Wales Class 142 No. 142010 and unidentified Class 143 depart Cardiff Central.	Arriva Trains Wales Class 142 Pacer No. 142069 at Cardiff Bay, with a service bound for Cardiff Queen Street.
Arriva Trains Wales Class 142 Pacer No. 142076 at Barry Island, with a service bound for Merthyr Tydfil.	A pair of Arriva Trains Wales Class 142 Pacers, with 142081 at the rear, arrive at Cardiff Central, with a service bound for Aberdare.	First North Western liveried, Northern Rail operated Class 142 Pacer No. 142031 at Hunts Cross.	Northern Rail Class 142 Pacer No. 142041 at Castleton East Junction, with a service bound for Rochdale.

Fleet details

Class	Operator	No. Built	Year Built	Cars per Set	Unit nos.
Class 142	Arriva Trains Wales	15	1985-1987	2	142002, 142006, 142010, 142069, 142072 - 142077, 142080 - 142083, 142085
	First Great Western	7			142001, 142009, 142029 - 142030, 142063, 142064, 142068
	Northern Rail	72			142003 - 142005, 142007, 142011 - 142028, 142031 - 142058, 142060 - 142062, 142065 - 142067, 142070, 142078, 142079, 142084, 142086 - 142096

In model form

A 'Pacer' model first appeared in Hornby Railways catalogue in 1987; liveries produced included: Provincial (two-tone blue and grey), Greater Manchester PTE (predominantly orange with black/white logos), Regional Railways (blue stripes), Tyne & Wear/Regional Railways (yellow/white), 'Skipper' (Western Region-esque brown/cream for Devon and Cornwall branch services between 1986 and 1987). Merseyrail (yellow/white) and Arriva Trains (turquoise/cream).

By current standards the model is crude, though several makers make detailing parts for the model. As of 1 Jan 2009 no other manufacturer has produced this class in model form.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: British Rail Class 142

v • d • e British Rail diesel Pacers Class 140 • Class 141 • Class 142 • Class 143 • Class 144

v • d • e British Rail diesel multiple units First generation units: 100 · 101 · 102 · 103 · 104 · 105 · 106 · 107 · 108 · 109 · 110 · 111 · 112 · 113 · 114 · 115 · 116 · 117 · 118 · 119 · 120 · 121 · 122 · 123 · 124 · 125 · 126 · 127 · 128 · 129 · 130 · 131 First Generation Original TOPS: 140 · 141 · 142 · 143 · 144 · 145 · 147 · 148 · 149 · 150 · 160 · 161 · 162 · 163 · 164 · 166 · 167 · 168 · 169 · 171 · 172 · 173 · 175 · 176 · 177 · 178 · 179 · 180 · 182 · 183 · 185 · 186 · 188 · 189 First generation units (pre-TOPS): British United Traction · Derby Lightweight · Metro-Cammell · Railbus · GWR Railcars · LMS Railcars Second generation units: 139 · 140 · 141 · 142 · 143 · 144 · 150 · 151 · 152 · 153 · 154 · 155 · 156 · 157 · 158 · 159 · 165 · 166 · 168 · 170 · 171 · 172 · 175 · 180 · 185 Diesel-electric units: 201 · 202 · 203 · 204 · 205 · 206 · 207 · 210 · 220 · 221 · 222 · 251 · 252 · 253 · 254 · 255 · 261 Southern Railway designations: 3D · 3H · 3R · 3T · 4L · 6B · 6L · 6S Families Pacer · Sprinter · Networker · Turbostar · Coradia · Desiro · Voyager Diesel locomotives · Electric locomotives · Miscellaneous locomotives · Diesel multiple units · Electric multiple units · Departmental multiple units