650 Carriages by 2014 - Chop Chop!

[tbtc]

They're also either too fast or electric.

Electric, yes, but there are around 1,500 75mph coaches on the old Southern Region (so a lot of units no faster than a Pacer).

 

[tempests1]

I think the only places they could work would be to give the seven 142s from FGW to NXEA to run on their branches for the duties run by single 153s (a Pacer is around thirty metres, so would have more seats than a single unit), allowing the 153s to move to Northern - any extra units for Northern will be used as extra capacity on busy routes, so a 153 (with corridor connections) is arguably more use than a 142 (longer, but with no corridor connection).

Apart from that, I think any routes "down south" are too busy for Pacer operation

I do agree that some of the Anglia Branch Lines would be suitable for Pacer Operation. I couldn't see a suitable use for them South of The Thames in the former SR Operating area. I had a mad thought picturing a Pacer Instead of the Class 171 picking up at East Croydon station en route from Uckfield to London Bridge!, or London Waterloo to Salisbury.
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Electric, yes, but there are around 1,500 75mph coaches on the old Southern Region (so a lot of units no faster than a Pacer).

I imagine but stand to be corrected that the EMU's have quicker acceleration than Pacer's after station stops, & in addition the vast majority of 75 mph EMU stock is used on Metro style lines such as Waterloo to Shepperton (Would Love to see a Pacer at Kingston break up the 450/455 boredom!) with frequent stops & large passenger numbers, & a Pacer would lose a lot of time, the Door Configuration would be wrong for Intensive Suburban working as they have only got one door per carriage. Dont get me wrong I quite enjoyed a ride out on a Pacer between Lime Street & Victoria. Pacer's could be swapped for Scottish 156's etc but then I suppose this is complicated due to Scottish devolution as the funding comes from a different source? I am no expert on this! they seem to have very good rolling stock North of the Border

 

[jopsuk]

Electric, yes, but there are around 1,500 75mph coaches on the old Southern Region (so a lot of units no faster than a Pacer).

I was thinking, by my "or", of 165/1s and 166s on the Thames Valley and 158s and 159s on the SWML- 90mph, all four- and 171s which can do 100mph (but may not have anywhere to do it?)

Edit: No Pacers in Scotland is a situation from way before devolution- under Regional Railways, Scotrail was an independently-minded sub brand.

 

[tbtc]

No Pacers in Scotland is a situation from way before devolution- under Regional Railways, Scotrail was an independently-minded sub brand.

Yeah, they trialled one on the Bathgate route in the mid 80s, but none were ever permanently allocated, despite routes like Paisley Canal/ Anniesland/ Whifflet being similar to urban branches they work in Yorkshire/ Lancashire/ Glamorgan etc.

A Pacer on the Far North/ Kyle/ West Highland line would be interesting - no problems with top speeds, and the big windows would be ideal for the scenery