LNER CAF fleet: predictions, suggestions etc

[Jamesrob637]

Both need more trains to London.

Does Leeds need 3tph to London? Maybe 2tph that start there and a third that starts from somewhere like Skipton/Harrogate/Ilkley/Huddersfield alternate hours.

 

[Rick1984]

You wonder if they could design a small low floor section into modern trains with a level boarding entrance, something you sometimes come across abroad, such as on the RENFE medium distance multiple units

 

[YorkRailFan]

Does Leeds need 3tph to London? Maybe 2tph that start there and a third that starts from somewhere like Skipton/Harrogate/Ilkley/Huddersfield alternate hours.

I agree with that, or an extra service from Bradford.

 

[CdBrux]

The LNER chairman has said they are for London-West Riding/York services. I think that statement is quite definitive.

I'm not sure he did, he said they replace Class 91 which are mostly used in that area. He didn't say that's where the new trains would be used. Why would you need tri-mode for London to Leeds?

 

[Jamesrob637]

I agree with that, or an extra service from Bradford.

Forgot about Bradford

 

[Iskra]

Does Leeds need 3tph to London? Maybe 2tph that start there and a third that starts from somewhere like Skipton/Harrogate/Ilkley/Huddersfield alternate hours.

VTEC thought so

 

[skyhigh]

Why would you need tri-mode for London to Leeds?

Would be quite useful for the Harrogate extensions though. Electric to Leeds, diesel to Harrogate and then battery power while there and waiting to come back.

 

[Iskra]

Would be quite useful for the Harrogate extensions though. Electric to Leeds, diesel to Harrogate and then battery power while there and waiting to come back.

It might make positioning moves easier Neville Hill/Leeds-York until the line is fully wired.

 

[DanNCL]

Why would you need tri-mode for London to Leeds?

Would be quite useful for the Harrogate extensions though. Electric to Leeds, diesel to Harrogate and then battery power while there and waiting to come back.

Especially useful for the Autumn diversions. It would allow more services to do the Joint Line and Cambridge diversions than at present, and would allow the extensions beyond the wires in Yorkshire to be maintained during Tyne Valley diversions - in previous years unelectrified extensions in Yorkshire have been cut to allow all of the 800s including the 5 car units (and before that all of the HSTs) to be used on Edinburgh services.

 

[Marton]

Forgot about Bradford

Sadly too many people do

 

[LYuen]

Would be quite useful for the Harrogate extensions though. Electric to Leeds, diesel to Harrogate and then battery power while there and waiting to come back.

I think the battery powered mode here means it can run a meaningful distance with battery power to claim themselves tri-mode?
Otherwise the Lumo Class 803 could claim themselves bi-mode (it might have 50 miles range on battery)

 

[Elecman]

I wonder if there is a possibility of train swaps between TPEs 80x and these new CAF 397 derivatives

 

[800001]

Why would you need bi-mode for London to Leeds?

Because they would possibly extend more Leeds trains to Harrogate? Am sure I’ve heard that mentioned in the past

 

[Peter Sarf]

I'm not sure he did, he said they replace Class 91 which are mostly used in that area. He didn't say that's where the new trains would be used. Why would you need tri-mode for London to Leeds?

I think LNER would like to be able to return Leeds services back to London without reversing. So via the un-electrified route (West beyond past Neville Hill) through South Milford to the East Coast Mainline. But when is that getting electrified anyway ?.

I certainly think LNER are a bit brave going for microfleet when TPE appear to be dropping one microfleet (Mk5s). Says something about Hitachi.

Did occur to me that the TPE Mk5 coaches might end up as part of the LNER fleet needing 100 coaches. I assume the Mk5s might well be similar to the 397s anyway ?. But nothing to sat these new trains are based on 397s rather than Mk5s.

 

[YorksLad12]

Does Leeds need 3tph to London? Maybe 2tph that start there and a third that starts from somewhere like Skipton/Harrogate/Ilkley/Huddersfield alternate hours.

That was the December 2022 plan. London-Leeds, London-Leeds-Bradford(/wherever), and a third service via Hambleton every two hours, omitting Wakefield, but not having to reverse to head up to Harrogate. Personally, I was impressed they found a gap to get through to Leeds from the east!

 

[IanXC]

Because they would possibly extend more Leeds trains to Harrogate? Am sure I’ve heard that mentioned in the past

Such extensions would also have benefits for platform capacity at Leeds which is always at a premium.

 

[800001]

I think LNER would like to be able to return Leeds services back to London via the un-electrified route (West past Neville Hill) through South Milford to the East Coast Mainline.

But you then miss out Wakefield? And the line from Leeds to Micklefield is congested as it is now, without adding extra services.

 

[deltic08]

Because they would possibly extend more Leeds trains to Harrogate? Am sure I’ve heard that mentioned in the past

There aren't enough passengers to justify the current six trains per day extended to Harrogate so why extend more.
More likely extending London-Leeds trains to Newcastle or Edinburgh and terminate Liverpool-Newcastle TPE trains and XC Southwest-Newcastle/Scotland diesel only under the wires trains at Leeds or even Doncaster.. This would still give Wakefield passengers through services to the northeast and Scotland or even as far as Aberdeen

 

[800001]

There aren't enough passengers to justify the current six trains per day extended to Harrogate so why extend more.
More likely extending London-Leeds trains to Newcastle or Edinburgh and terminate Liverpool-Newcastle TPE trains and XC Southwest-Newcastle/Scotland diesel only under the wires trains at Leeds or even Doncaster.. This would still give Wakefield passengers through services to the northeast and Scotland or even as far as Aberdeen

The London to Newcastle trains will be new services, London to Leeds will continue as 2 per hour, they will not extend to Newcastle!

 

[Class 800]

What do we think these new trains will be branded as?

Will the Azuma brand be staying on long-term?
At the moment even station announcements use “LNER Azuma” for instance, but not “LNER InterCity 225”

 

[Bletchleyite]

What do we think these new trains will be branded as?

Will the Azuma brand be staying on long-term?
At the moment even station announcements use “LNER Azuma” for instance, but not “LNER InterCity 225”

Wouldn't at all surprise me to see a competition to name them. Possibly both the fleet name and names for individual units, with there being only ten.

 

[deltic08]

The London to Newcastle trains will be new services, London to Leeds will continue as 2 per hour, they will not extend to Newcastle!

If you are that sure where is your evidence?
The last time I spoke to LNER this was their plan to free up platforms of terminating London trains. Dwell time is minimum 20 minutes.

 

[800001]

If you are that sure where is your evidence?
The last time I spoke to LNER this was their plan to free up platforms of terminating London trains. Dwell time is minimum 20 minutes.

I’ve never seen any plan, any timetable at all with any plans to send Leeds trains onwards to York and Newcastle.

The extra Newcastle trains, basically becomes all stops from London to Newcastle, this frees up one Edinburgh train per hour to call at Newcastle and Edinburgh only.

Who at LNER told you about that being the reason regards platforms?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Wouldn't at all surprise me to see a competition to name them. Possibly both the fleet name and names for individual units, with there being only ten.

A competition that they’ll no doubt open to the public and then award to a member of their staff (or their staff’s kids) as usual

 

[aem7ac]

Don’t know if this is best suited for a separate thread. But anyone have any guesses if the 91s or Mk4s will have a future beyond razor blades once these are around?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Don’t know if this is best suited for a separate thread. But anyone have any guesses if the 91s or Mk4s will have a future beyond razor blades once these are around?

Other than another Ian Yeowart fantasy, I highly doubt it to be honest.

 

[TheWalrus]

Does Leeds need 3tph to London? Maybe 2tph that start there and a third that starts from somewhere like Skipton/Harrogate/Ilkley/Huddersfield alternate hours.

Would you be able to get a path to Huddersfield though?

 

[YourMum666]

Probably something derived off a 397

 

[TheBigD]

That was the December 2022 plan. London-Leeds, London-Leeds-Bradford(/wherever), and a third service via Hambleton every two hours, omitting Wakefield, but not having to reverse to head up to Harrogate. Personally, I was impressed they found a gap to get through to Leeds from the east!

The December 2022 plan was...

Ex Kings Cross
xx03 Edinburgh
xx10 Leeds
xx30 Edinburgh (Fast)
xx33 Newcastle
xx40 Leeds (even hours to Harrogate)
xx47 Lincoln (even hours)
xx47 York (odd hours)
With a few changes at peak times.

Nothing to Leeds via Hambleton, all via Wakefield.

 

[Gaz55]

I'm wondering how the units will be configured. 3 first class and 7 standard cars would seem a good balance, or will they go down the route of split cars. An overall capacity of 650 passengers?