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"I suspect you’re right. So past experience = DfT’s “teacher’s pet”. It’s the only explanation for Abellio getting East Mids: who in their right mind would give them another franchise with total fleet replacement after the mess of ScotRail and Anglia fleet introductions?" Scotrail aren't doing...

TSGN will be dissolved, the Thameslink portion coming under the control of the government. GA will take delivery of he first of its new fleet. TPE will do the same. Hull trains will take out another HST on loan. Grand Central will place an order for better stock. The XC franchise will be re-let...

I'm from Daventry... And seeing as my nearest stations are Rugby, Northampton and Banbury... I'm gonna go with the latter given the investment in the WCML in recent years. The Aylesbury line would see 25kv electrification to improve the frequency and efficiency of the trains using the line...

Right. So. We're all in agreement. South Wales to Stansted needs to be 4 - Car minimum. If we're working off the same ratio, roughly, that means anything else needs to be between 7 and 9 coaches long. I say a mixed fleet of 7 and 5 car trainsets. Anyone else agree or disagree?

Maybe there would be surplus MS(L) vehicles from cascaded examples?

Lol I don't normally see those overcrowded. Ah well. I'd be open to seeing them take on the 175s from the TfW franchise. More of them so they can accommodate the extra people

The Turbostar routes aren't terribly overcrowded to my knowledge. As previously mentioned, it seems to be the Reading - Birmingham route and BHM - York / North that seems to be problematic. I don't see more HSTs happening. Only hope would be either new stock for the franchise or the Meridians...

When Virgin held this franchise, the 22X classes were brought in based on a 'less carriages, more often' basis. They replaced the outgoing 7 coach trains with 4 and 5 car trainsets. However, because the new timetable went downhill from the beginning, it basically went back to the old...

They used to shoot the lights out customer service wise. Wouldn't stun me if when they got their new 802s, that goes back up. They're great once the service is running. Unfortunately, the Adelantes are letting them down

Just going back to the original quote when it was said can you knock holes in the side of a coach. I believe the motorail vans that were at Rugby (now canton) were ex standard Mk1s? Plus if FGW could convert a load of buffet mark 3s to standard vehicles or composite cars then surely it can't be...

I've not seen any threads on this so far. So. What's happening with regards to LSLs Class 55 fleet? I've not heard any news for months. Have they just joined the back of a very long queue of locos awaiting restoration? Thanks in advance.

Best Current freight - DRS Class 68/88 Best Current Passenger - GWR / First groups dynamic lines. Worst Current freight - FL G&W orange. (Powerhaul was better) or the FL grey. Worst Current Passenger - WMT / TSGN. Just gonna chuck this out there, the new LNER Azuma livery isnt very imaginative :|

General hunch is they would just operate at a reduced capacity until whatever new stock is sourced. If the incumbent isn't going to put them through the upgrade then I don't see the next one doing so. Sadly I think they'll be joining the majority of the off lease HST & 365 fleets :/

I can't be the only person here thinking the voyager could do with its Virgin badge back? A little thing I know. I also think they should've gone for a MML blue and grey Meridian front end warning panel style, rather than just slice through mid yellow stripe. Ifs and buts lol

Being born in 99... Id say, During my lifetime - NX I thought was quite smart, both EC and EA. Any Dynamic lines livery, maybe with exception to the 350 as I see that as a bit over the top. VTEC, 91s and HSTs that is. Midland Mainline blue and grey was also quite smart to me. ECs flying...

Route wise, reinstate Liverpool in some capacity. Give it an hourly service to the south coast alternating with one terminating at Manchester Piccadilly. Bring back a Portsmouth Harbour service by extending the Newcastle to Reading trains forward via Eastleigh. Would also push for a south Wales...

A few years back you may remember what was a somewhat last minute rush for UK spec diesel mixed traffic locomotives. This was due to the EU emissions regulations changing and all ordered locomotives at the time, DRS 68, Colas 70 and GBRF 66, were the last locos ordered to that spec. I've heard...

Let's not forget the WCML partnership is on the horizon. Unpopular thought I know but the Voyagers from that franchise would be a welcome addition should the new franchisee decide to Bi-Mode the Holyhead services and the EM franchisee decide to offload their HSTs.

My assumption is that when the previous TOC stops tradung, the brand becomes null and void? I'd be open to correction in this case as I have no idea and would also like to find out. But another good case is the Virgin East Coast to LNER. Although in this case and rebranding on a massive scale...

I've not heard of Adelantes / Zephyrs running without one engine. However I have heard of Voyagers going around with one engine off to help reduce their carbon footprint. So its not undoable!