[dlh1983]

At Manchester Piccadilly station the other day I saw a 3 car 158 in the dark red Northern Spirit / Transpennine Express livery being used on the Central Trains Liverpool to Nottingham service with a Central Trains logo on it.

When Northern Rail took over from Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western, First leased some 158s in Central Trains’ green as they were unable to continue using First North Western branded 158s on the Manchester Piccadilly to Hull Transpennine route. So it seems a bit strange for it to be the other way round now.

This just seems to add further confusion to where the remainder of the former Transpennine Express 158s are going. It had previously been suggested that they may go to First Great Western in exchange for the 180s, which would then be used on the Manchester Airport to Scotland route commencing from December (as it was considered that the 185s which First intend to use would hold up Pendolino trains north of Preston.)

Alternatively, it had been suggested that Northern would get some when they returned 24 of their 72 142s to leasing company Angel Trains.

I’m not sure if Central Trains may have got some extra carriages, as the train I saw going in the opposite direction was a 4 carriage 158 which consisted of Coaches A, C, A and C. I’m just glad I didn’t have a seat reservation on that train!