Should LNR amend the length of the ordered 730s?

[Bletchleyite]

It has occurred to me that the south WCML will from Dec move to an almost all 8 car timetable. 8.350 (160m) seems very much a sweet spot at most times of day, and they appear to be using peak extras rather than 12 car trains to add capacity where needed.

Should the 730 order therefore be modified to 7 car units? (168m)? Or maybe 8 car (192m)? As things stand the options will be 5 car (120m, insufficient for most trains) or 10 car (240m, excessive for most trains)?

What they have on order seems incongruous unless they are going to use a 5 and a 3 (with the WMR units) to make 8?

 

[Bald Rick]

Way too late.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Way too late.

Is it? They made a change to the order very recently (last couple of months) to reduce the number of 5s and increase the number of 3s, presumably to end West Midlands 350 working so they can be used on the WCML in 8 car formations. Unless the plan is to use 5+3 on some WCML services...

Have any 5s even been completed yet?

 

[Bald Rick]

Is it? They made a change to the order very recently (last couple of months) to reduce the number of 5s and increase the number of 3s

That was announced a few months ago, which is a key distinction…

 

[Bletchleyite]

That was announced a few months ago, which is a key distinction…

Fair point.

I wonder if some of the 3s will be green and silver and used for 8 car formations, which might actually be handy on a few services for a bit of extra capacity over 8.350?

I do fear them running 5s around, but these will just end up leaving people behind so I can't see that working.

 

[Bald Rick]

I do fear them running 5s around, but these will just end up leaving people behind so I can't see that working.

I have it on good authority that the seating layout is sensible…

 

[Bletchleyite]

I have it on good authority that the seating layout is sensible…

It's not about the seating layout (all 2+2 I believe). It is that a train 40m shorter than 8.350 will not have enough physical capacity to fit everyone on board on a very large number of services and will leave people behind.

 

[cactustwirly]

It's not about the seating layout (all 2+2 I believe). It is that a train 40m shorter than 8.350 will not have enough physical capacity to fit everyone on board on a very large number of services and will leave people behind.

This has been happening all over the network with Southern and EMR seeing cuts to capacity. The DfT are apparently content with this

 

[Bletchleyite]

This has been happening all over the network with Southern and EMR seeing cuts to capacity. The DfT are apparently content with this

Oh dear...

 

[PG]

The DfT are apparently content with this

He who pays the piper calls the tune