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Lumo got its access rights by putting a case that it was competing with airlines on time and adding passengers to the railway. To some extent, that is a little dubious as it will be taking market from LNER as well. It is looking to use its trains intensively and concentrate traincrew at a single Newcastle base.
Running London to Glasgow via Manchester in six, maybe seven hours is neither intensive or good competition against other flows. The demand from London to Glasgow is less than Edinburgh in any case.
Or, perhaps a class 90 that can actually do 110mph. Going via Manchester adds time to the journey even if paths were available.
A Pendolino can do the journey in regular service at four and a half hours, or under four hours if pushing it. I say it could be done in five to five and a half hours, which while probably not as quick as Lumo could still contest a plane, especially factoring in wait time and passenger experience.
The reason I said Deltic was because I'd like to make my money back if I did try it, unless you know people who would pay for a ride behind a class 90 or 91?
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The simple facts are via Manchester is longer, slower (because the linespeeds are slower) and you're suggesting the use of 110mph stock compared to 125mph which is used which is also slower.
You'll be adding over an hour to the current journey time and limited stopping which in turn will limit its usefuleness.
This feels more like a crayonista desire to cover certain routes on certain stock than a sensible proposal.
I made it quite clear I don't see it ever happening, and was talking purely hypothetical. Sorry if you don't like theoretical discussion in a speculative discussion thread.....
I made it quite clear I don't see it ever happening, and was talking purely hypothetical. Sorry if you don't like theoretical discussion in a speculative discussion thread.....
The current interior on the 458s would not be suitable for the 2 hour journey, of many passengers travel end to end, and so they’ll need a major interior re-work, re-gearing and having an intermediate coach removed. you’ve also got the training costs involved which will be more substantial than on Desiro based.
Porterbrook suggested that they were looking at battery conversions, didn't they? I see that being more of a likely future than running on electrified routes, at least without heavy modification or a carriage being removed.
Porterbrook suggested that they were looking at battery conversions, didn't they? I see that being more of a likely future than running on electrified routes, at least without heavy modification or a carriage being removed.
My "patently never going to happen" judgement is directed at MattRat's plan for a London-Manchester-Glasgow open-access operation using the 350/2s as the "WCMLs [sic] version of Lumo".
My "patently never going to happen" judgement is directed at MattRat's plan for a London-Manchester-Glasgow open-access operation using the 350/2s as the "WCMLs [sic] version of Lumo".
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