Recent content by mt4958

I think we can all agree the 222s and HSTs are far more comfortable than the rattle wagons from Northampton. It's the only reason people have been willing to pay the intercity fare prices. As soon as we get the same commuter style trains on the MML there will be no benefit. In the early days...

And yet too many seats on the EMR Electrics - due to the refurbishment missing the deadline they will be inheriting a 3 + 2 configuration from Greater Anglia

Operationally the plan for the Hitachis sounds similar to the way South Eastern run the 395s on the other side of St P. 3 platforms running a mix of 2x5 and 1x5 (rather than 2x6 and 1x6). + 1 platform but mostly for Corby.

I'm looking forward to seeing the December 2020 timetable, there's a lot of things to fix. Eg the wonky EMT service patterns at stations south of Leicester. I hope the new infrastructure should present some flexibility to do this. The 4th line being restored south of Kettering might assist...

Does anyone think Corby will retain catering facilities? Do 360's run anywhere with either a snack bar or a trolley setup?

It will be interesting to see what happens. At the moment off peak returns costs £77 from Kettering compared to £36 from Huntingdon. If the intercity quality is lost it will be interesting to see the impact on leisure demand (i’m assuming most commuters won’t choose to change routes)

The route is losing HSTs, they still run many of the peak services.

I would love to see something capable of 125mph, but reading the thread above, is the general feeling that it's unlikely that Corby will retain 125mph trains? There doesn't seem to be anything out there, class 397s etc but the doors are all wrong, carriage length, availability etc. Would these...

I was on this stretch of track a couple of weeks ago and the GPS on my phone measured a good stretch of 125mph, previously it has always been 115mph

Will the work at Market Harborough leave it with 2 platforms? The reason i ask is I can't help thinking it might be useful to have a third platform now that electrification will come this far, for future operational flexibility. For example, an option for some services to terminate at Market...

Hope we'll find out on Wednesday what the new trains will be. Although emailing (accidentally or otherwise) the Stagecoach bid to Abellio seems pretty serious :rolleyes:.

Yes, 240m platforms for London to Corby - https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/lne-and-em/midland-main-line-improvement-programme/mml-longer-platforms/

When the MML had Class 170 turbostars, I understand their top-speed of 100mph caused significant pathing issues (as the services were interlaced with HSTs at 115mph). The Meridians made things a lot simpler. More slow lines have been built between Bedford and Corby since then but I imagine any...

I'm finding it difficult to find anything concrete on the rolling stock that will be used for Corby from December 2020. Presumably this new stock will mean some of the 222s will free up to run HST duties, it seems like this wouldn't scratch the surface on the number of replacement units needed?