Electrification is not just about electrification

[jayah]

This situation exists because no-one is willing to order new diesels. I think this is down to a combination of government unwillingness to buy trains for routes receiving lots of subsidies, and uncertainty over future demand for diesels caused by the enthusiasm for electrification and potential for battery powered trains. The surplus of EMUs will last only until the 317s,319s,321s are scrapped, which will now inevitably be long before the DMUs of the same age.

However at current prices I'd expect new fleets of diesels to be far cheaper than electrification. The day the government finally gives up on electrification may actually be a good one for passengers on unelectrified routes, if it allows operators more certainty in planning for the future. Someone will have to bite the bullet in the not too distant future - the Sprinters won't last forever.

It is a bit like why does nobody build gas fired power stations? Far cheaper than renewables but government has rigged the market against them so without guarantees nobody will build.

 

[Dixie]

Although depending on the route, we may get more bi-modes!

 

[squizzler]

Another advantage of electrification to add to the list: if you want to buy British it seems you need to buy electric trains.

Bombardier is unlikely to go back to making Turbostars now, they have moved on and I am not aware that Aventra is conceived to allow a diesel version. As for more Voyagers (made in Belgium anyway) - fuggedaboudit!

Hitachi I reckon are unlikely to go into the DMU game, whilst they are doing bi-modes the normal type of diesel units hardly fit with their brand image as the Bullet train company.

So if you want DMU's I think you have to go to the Chinese or the Spanish builders. There is the class 230, sure, but supplies of those are, by definition, limited.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I thought in view of developments it was appropriate to give this thread a bump. I stand by what I said in the first post.