A (simple-ish?) short-term idea for more Chiltern capacity

[MerlinRail 804]

Now let me start by staying that this probably not a good idea, but I’m suggesting anyway.

I’m sure most people are aware of the overcrowding issue Chiltern faces.

So the idea is basically, to boost every unit (except the /3s) to four carriages, nine middle coaches from 170s, which are pretty much the same thing I think, could be taken and put into the nine 3 car 168s. I guess the main issue would be finding the 170s which would suffer least. It would only be temporary, until they get more trains, but I’m sure it would make some difference to some services. Perhaps, if it worked, some could be extended to 5 coaches too.

Just an idea, would be interesting to see what people think

 

[JonathanH]

I guess the main issue would be finding the 170s which would suffer least.

Just robbing one set of passengers of their capacity to help another set.

Which 3-car 170s are better running as 2-car units? Another way of framing your suggestion is asking why Chiltern don't run fewer services, but with more coaches on each one?

So the idea is basically, to boost every unit (except the /3s) to four carriages

Are the services that Chiltern run with 3 coaches more overcrowded than those they run with 4 coaches? What about those which are 5 coaches because they are already 2+3 or 6 because they are already 3+3. Chiltern has a very flexible fleet that allows different combinations of 168s to be combined to target capacity for each train.

 

[skyhigh]

Just an idea, would be interesting to see what people think

It's a daft idea. I'm not sure ScotRail, EMR, CrossCountry or Northern, users of 3 car 170s, would be particularly keen with reducing their own capacity when they're already struggling themselves.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Which 3-car 170s are better running as 2-car units? Another way of framing your suggestion is asking why Chiltern don't run fewer services, but with more coaches on each one?

Chiltern are already running around 100 fewer services per day than pre-pandemic, with stops being added to Birmingham and Oxford services to compensate.