Does Cornwall / Devon need more express services?

[yorksrob]

And it's well known that there isn't capacity in the workshops to update all the HST stock needed to operate many lines that would really benefit from them after 2019. If an insider can confirm where there is capacity to do the work a lot of TOCs might like to know. Maybe abroad?

Obtaining some sort of a derogation might allow more time in which to carry out the works. A similar solution could be used on the MML

Alternatively, they could do one carriage in each set.

 

[Killingworth]

Normally I pay little attention to rumours but what struck me odd about the XC HST rumour was a specific number of 12 sets was mentioned.

It's also unclear what East Midlands will be operating instead of their HSTs after 2019. Dispensations to operate into 2020 are, apparently, as impossible as workshops being able to do the necessary conversion work for all operators in time.

As the units have been operating for 40 years any rational person might ask why they haven't been replaced or upgraded before now. But we're now facing a man made deadline that we've known about for many months, even years. We can't blame those who made the new rules as they gave plenty of time to plan ahead.

Long suffering passengers are fed up with rail industry disruptions for reasons that could have been well foreseen. Overcrowding after 2019 will still occur. Blaming it on loss of HSTs will be accepting failure to do the planning, be it by DfT, TOCs, leasing companies or them all.

Despite their age, slam doors, antiquated toilet systems and lack of features found on modern trains, they're still popular with travellers. Corrosion apart (some carriages will be worse than others) it would seem more cost effective to reduce congestion by renovating more of these trains for another 10 years. At present we seem to be heading for an abyss of serious diesel stock shortages for at least 2 or 3 years.

 

[the Rat]

It's also unclear what East Midlands will be operating instead of their HSTs after 2019. Dispensations to operate into 2020 are, apparently, as impossible as workshops being able to do the necessary conversion work for all operators in time.

As the units have been operating for 40 years any rational person might ask why they haven't been replaced or upgraded before now. But we're now facing a man made deadline that we've known about for many months, even years. We can't blame those who made the new rules as they gave plenty of time to plan ahead.

Long suffering passengers are fed up with rail industry disruptions for reasons that could have been well foreseen. Overcrowding after 2019 will still occur. Blaming it on loss of HSTs will be accepting failure to do the planning, be it by DfT, TOCs, leasing companies or them all.

Despite their age, slam doors, antiquated toilet systems and lack of features found on modern trains, they're still popular with travellers. Corrosion apart (some carriages will be worse than others) it would seem more cost effective to reduce congestion by renovating more of these trains for another 10 years. At present we seem to be heading for an abyss of serious diesel stock shortages for at least 2 or 3 years.

Excellent post, totally agree. But the fact that there has been a long lead-in time does not give me any confidence that there won't be, as you say, 'disruptions for reasons that could have been well foreseen'. Just look at the TL timetable fiasco...