A Ride on Northern Trains Class 769 | Bolton to Westhoughton

Time for a change of pace with another short journey video filmed onboard one of Northern Trains Class 769 Flex is a type of bi or tri-mode multiple units with today's lucky winner being 769424.

We take a short and gather bouncy journey from Bolton station to the next calling point of Westhoughton whilst the train was running a service from Stalybridge to Southport.

Filmed in the spur of the moment really on my mobile phone rather than my camcorder which I didn't have with me. 769424 was previously numbered at Northern with 319424 and before in Thameslink era I believe was
319024.

It felt nice to hear the old 319 thrash again. I don't particularly love these units but it's nice to get them on film as they won't be around forever supposedly. Also fun to film a bit of this line which wasnt electrified for many years too.

The Class 769 Flex is a type of bi or tri-mode multiple unit (BMU/TMU) which is converted by Brush Traction. The train is a conversion of the existing Class 319 electric multiple unit (EMU), a conventional unit type that had become surplus to requirements during the 2010s.

The conversion process was carried out by a partnership between the rolling stock leasing company Porterbrook and train manufacturer Wabtec Brush. The conversion principally involves the addition of a pair of MAN diesel engines under each driving trailer vehicle, the output of which is fed into ABB-provided alternators to power the existing electric traction systems. According to Porterbrook, the Class 769’s performance under diesel power is either equal or superior to that of a Class 150 Sprinter diesel multiple units (DMU), and that the switchover between EMU and DMU modes can be carried out while the train is in motion.


The official working today 769424
2W17 1352 Stalybridge to Southport

Departed Bolton 1434
Running 1 late
Arrived at Westhoughton 1440 Ontime

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Filmed at Bolton/Westhoughton
Filmed Tuesday 22nd September 2026

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