Creating more 4 coach DMU's with GW Turbos

[The Ham]

Given that GW will have a load of 16x's which are due to be freed up due to IEP and Electrification, how viable would it be to remove some central coaches from the three coach sets and inserted into other sets to produce 4 coach sets?

Such a set could be very useful on the Reading/Gatwick services which can often be fairly busy but many of the stations probably couldn't cope with trains which are much longer than at present.

This then leads to the question as to how useful such a long set would be on the other remaining DMU services near Reading and how useful a few more 2 coach sets would be out west where the 16x's are rumoured to be heading?

 

[D6975]

166 - 21x 3 car sets

Could become
10 x 4 car sets
10 x 2 car sets
1 x 3 car set

The 4 car sets could then replace the 158/9s on the Pompeys

 

[bigdelboy]

I am unsure if deepdene (and elsewhere) could take a 4 car ....

And 2x2 could already be used as a 4 car if necessary.

 

[455driver]

I am unsure if deepdene (and elsewhere) could take a 4 car ....

And 2x2 could already be used as a 4 car if necessary.

I have seen the 2x2coach 158s used on the afternoon Brighton to Bristol (as it was) a few times so they must fit on that bit.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

166 - 21x 3 car sets

Could become
10 x 4 car sets
10 x 2 car sets
1 x 3 car set

The 4 car sets could then replace the 158/9s on the Pompeys

There are 12 3 coach 158s so why not-
11 x 4 coach and
10 x 2 coach.

Why leave one set as a 3 coach?

 

[sprinterguy]

There are 12 3 coach 158s so why not-
11 x 4 coach and
10 x 2 coach.

Why leave one set as a 3 coach?

Because there are 21 intermediate class 166 vehicles: You'd need 22 to extend eleven units to 4 coaches.

 

[455driver]

Because there are 21 intermediate class 166 vehicles: You'd need 22 to extend eleven units to 4 coaches.

Oh yeah!
Need a bit more water with it!

Maybe do some 165s as 4 coach as well?

 

[The Ham]

I am unsure if deepdene (and elsewhere) could take a 4 car ....

And 2x2 could already be used as a 4 car if necessary.

I know that 2x2 could be used, however places with short platforms would probably be more of a problem under that. A quick "guess" measurement would seam to imply that 10 sets of platforms would require about 20m of lengthening (assuming SDO was not an option on a 4 coach set, I doubt it would be sensible on a 2x2 train).

Also the 16x's do not have gangways, but whilst not wanting to get into all the debates over why and why not, clearly the shorter the paired up units are the more problematic this is, especially on a route with very few manned stations.

 

[Helvellyn]

Take the 165/1 centre cars and put 10 in 166 units (for Cardiff - Portsmouth). Hand remaining 6 to Chiltern to lengthen 165023-165028.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

If a new batch of Turbostar intermediate coaches was built (even if un-powered) would they be compatible with Networker Turbo units?

 

[The Ham]

If a new batch of Turbostar intermediate coaches was built (even if un-powered) would they be compatible with Networker Turbo units?

I would have thought that would result in a slower train, which may not be a problem if they are used on lines with a lower top speed.