[hstudent]

Are there any instances where the same rolling stock is used by two different operators?

I'm aware of there two instances where it has happened in the past, but in both cases it no longer happens.

One is that up until the London Midland franchise was launched 350s were used on some journeys between Liverpool or Crewe and London Euston calling at some stations that Virgin did not serve. These trains were operated by Central Trains north of Rugby and Silverlink south of Rugby. These services still operate but are run by London Midland for their entire duration now.

Another, more complex, instance where two operators used the same trains was after Wales and Borders took over the Manchester to Chester and North Wales via Warrington routes from First North Western. This resulted in:
* The first morning Wales and Borders Manchester to Chester via Warrington to be operated by a First North Western train with some empty units attached
* The first Wales and Borders Chester to Manchester via Warrington to be operated by one of the units used on the above service (the remainder being used for Chester to Manchester via Altrincham services.) On arrival at Manchester Piccadilly the train immediately formed a First North Western service to Chester via Altrincham.
* The second First North Western Chester to Manchester via Altrincham service to be operated by a 175 that was transferred from First North Western to Wales and Borders. On arrival at Manchester Piccadilly the train immediately formed a Wales and Borders service to Llandundno.

The latter example had both advantages and disadvantages.
The good points included:
* Less trains running out of service first thing in the morning
* Trains arriving from Chester via Warrington weren't having to shunt between platforms 13 and 14 at Manchester Piccadilly at busy times
* The busiest morning services in to Manchester on both lines were operated by the larger 175s
* There was a direct peak train to Manchester Oxford Rd from the Altrincham line.

The bad points were:
* First North Western staff were continually involved in industrial action which may have affected Wales and Borders' services on occasions
* The first Chester to Manchester via Warrington arrived at Manchester at about 7:50, when it departed for Chester via Altrincham. This meant that schoolchildren for Knutsford High School and St Nicholas High (near Greenbank station) were having to either arrive an hour early or about 5-10 minutes late. (You can guess which most did!) First North Western were unable to change the time of that train to be slightly earlier, but Northern Rail since have.

Regarding the First North Western strikes, they also caused problems on the North Wales Coast services as First North Western staff were taking over Virgin Trains services at either Crewe or Chester.