Class 156 Refurbishment 2017-2019
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The ScotRail Class 156 fleet was refurbished by Knorr-Bremse Rail Services (latterly Gemini Rail) at Springburn to make the trains compliant with the PRM-TSI (Persons of Reduced Mobility) standard.
To meet the standard, a replacement larger toilet compartment is installed, space is made for a dedicated wheelchair area in the saloon, and new door buttons and sounders are fitted. Other work includes a full internal and external repaint, new seats, tables and carpet, plus energy efficient lighting, power sockets and Wi-Fi installed. The new seats are from Spanish company Fainsa, of the same type being fitted to the new Class 385 EMUs.
42 class 156 sets leased to ScotRail by Angel Trains were refurbished (up from an initial 38). Five other class 156s moved from ScotRail to Northern in December 2018 without this work done.
Fifteen of the early sets in the programme retained the original tables and 'Ashbourne' seating with old seat covers. 156510 was the first to have a full interior refit, and it was launched in public service at East Kilbide on 27 June 2017. Due to design flaws with new tables and seating, it wasn't until November 2017, when the 2nd (unit 156430) full interior refit appeared.
156478 (leased to ScotRail from Brodie Rail) was upgraded to PRM-TSI comliance in October 2016, but retains the original seating, with 'Saltire' blue seat covers.
From August 2019, the 15 sets which retained the old interiors have been sent to Landore Depot in Swansea, for refitting by Chrysalis Rail.
To meet the standard, a replacement larger toilet compartment is installed, space is made for a dedicated wheelchair area in the saloon, and new door buttons and sounders are fitted. Other work includes a full internal and external repaint, new seats, tables and carpet, plus energy efficient lighting, power sockets and Wi-Fi installed. The new seats are from Spanish company Fainsa, of the same type being fitted to the new Class 385 EMUs.
Interior of a 156 after the PRM modifications and refurbishment work. Photo by JModulo
42 class 156 sets leased to ScotRail by Angel Trains were refurbished (up from an initial 38). Five other class 156s moved from ScotRail to Northern in December 2018 without this work done.
Fifteen of the early sets in the programme retained the original tables and 'Ashbourne' seating with old seat covers. 156510 was the first to have a full interior refit, and it was launched in public service at East Kilbide on 27 June 2017. Due to design flaws with new tables and seating, it wasn't until November 2017, when the 2nd (unit 156430) full interior refit appeared.
156478 (leased to ScotRail from Brodie Rail) was upgraded to PRM-TSI comliance in October 2016, but retains the original seating, with 'Saltire' blue seat covers.
| Unit Number | Arrived Springburn | Departed Springburn | Remarks |
| 156509 | xx/02/16 | 15/08/16 | (retained original seating) |
| 156502 | xx/xx/16 | 30/10/16 | (retained original seating) |
| 156503 | xx/xx/16 | 09/01/17 | (retained original seating) |
| 156506 | xx/xx/17 | 04/02/17 | (retained original seating) |
| 156432 | xx/xx/17 | 25/02/17 | (retained original seating) |
| 156501 | xx/xx/17 | 10/03/17 | (retained original seating) |
| 156505 | xx/xx/17 | 31/03/17 | (retained original seating) |
| 156507 | xx/xx/17 | 28/04/17 | (retained original seating) |
| 156508 | xx/xx/17 | 31/05/17 | (retained original seating) |
| 156510 | xx/xx/17 | 23/06/17 | 1st full interior refit |
| 156511 | xx/06/17 | 01/07/17 | (retained original seating) |
| 156513 | xx/07/17 | 28/07/17 | (retained original seating) |
| 156467 | xx/xx/17 | August 2017 | (retained original seating) Livery Change |
| 156514 | xx/xx/17 | 11/09/17 | (retained original seating) |
| 156512 | xx/xx/17 | 02/10/17 | (retained original seating) |
| 156462 | 05/09/17 | 23/10/17 | (retained original seating) Livery Change |
| 156430 | October 2017 | 16/11/17 | 2nd full interior refit |
| 156494 | November 2017 | December 2017 | 3rd full interior refit |
| 156504 | December 2017 | 10/01/18 | 4th full interior refit |
| 156431 | xx/xx/18 | 03/02/18 | 5th full interior refit |
| 156442 | xx/xx/18 | 21/02/18 | 6th full interior refit |
| 156433 | 21/02/18 | 22/03/18 | 7th full interior refit |
| 156436 | xx/xx/18 | 16/04/18 | 8th full interior refit |
| 156439 | 23/03/18 | 12/05/18 | 9th full interior refit |
| 156435 | 16/04/18 | 07/05/18 | 10th full interior refit |
| 156437 | 12/05/18 | 27/06/18 | 11th full interior refit |
| 156434 | May 2018 | July 2018 | 12th full interior refit |
| 156495 | 27/06/18 | 13/08/18 | 13th full interior refit |
| 156492 | July 2018 | 04/09/18 | 14th full interior refit (1st RETB fitted refurb) |
| 156458 | 13/08/18 | September 2018 | 15th full interior refit. Livery Change. |
| 156457 | 04/09/18 | 19/10/18 | 16th full interior refit. Livery Change. |
| 156446 | 19/10/18 | November 2018 | 17th full interior refit. Livery Change. |
| 156477 | November 2018 | 08/12/18 | 18th full interior refit. Livery Change. |
| 156493 | December 2018 | 10/01/19 | 19th full interior refit. Livery Change. |
| 156476 | December 2018 | 29/01/19 | 20th full interior refit. Livery Change. |
| 156474 | 10/01/19 | 25/02/19 | 21st full interior refit. Livery Change. |
| 156450 | 29/01/19 | 20/03/19 | 22nd full interior refit. Livery change. |
| 156500 | 25/02/19 | 15/04/19 | 23rd full interior refit |
| 156499 | 20/03/19 | 13/05/19 | 24th full interior refit |
| 156456 | 15/04/19 | May 2019 | 25th full interior refit. Livery Change. |
| 156453 | May 2019 | June 2019 | 26th full interior refit. Livery Change. |
| 156445 | June 2019 | 26/07/19 | 27th full interior refit, last train overhauled by Springburn works. |
From August 2019, the 15 sets which retained the old interiors have been sent to Landore Depot in Swansea, for refitting by Chrysalis Rail.
| Unit Number | Arrived Landore | Departed Landore | Remarks |
| 156509 | 05/08/19 | 27/08/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156467 | 28/08/19 | 07/09/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156507 | 08/09/19 | 13/09/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156506 | 16/09/19 | 22/09/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156505 | 22/09/19 | 28/09/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156513 | 28/09/19 | 07/10/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156503 | 04/10/19 | 14/10/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156502 | 11/10/19 | 19/10/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156508 | 19/10/19 | 26/10/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156432 | 26/10/19 | 02/11/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156514 | 02/11/19 | 09/11/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156512 | 09/11/19 | 16/11/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156501 | 16/11/19 | 23/11/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156462 | 23/11/19 | 30/11/19 | New seating and plug sockets |
| 156511 | 30/11/19 | 06/12/19 | New seating and plug sockets |