Northern withdraws first batch of ‘Pacers’

NORTHERN has withdrawn the first its Class 142 ‘Pacer’ units – 11 months later than planned.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.

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Class 142 ‘Pacer’ No. 142005 being sent off for its retirement at Manchester Victoria by (from right) Northern managing director David Brown, Transport Focus director David Sidebottom, and Cllr Doreen Dickinson, vice chairman of Transport for Greater Manchester. NORTHERN

Unit No. 142005 was ‘retired’ on August 12, with Northern holding a ceremony at Manchester Victoria to mark the beginning of the end for the class.

The set was introduced on February 20, 1987, and has in its 32-year life travelled three million miles. Northern added special ‘I am retiring today’ vinyls to the side of the set before it set off on services to Stalybridge.

Read more in the September 2019 issue of The RM – on sale now!

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