WatcherZero
Established Member
- Joined
- 25 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,272
Interestingly while IEP will begin to enter service from May 2018 on the East Coast, the formal switchover to new timetable and release of the IC225's is May 2020. The leasing companies are reportedly lobbying for the stock to be released earlier, during 2019, so that they have time to perform DDA upgrades for the next lessor in time for Dec 2019 so that they can go straight into a new home without being off lease for an extended period for modification if East Coast releasesed them en masse in May (doubt whether a 4 month waiver would be much of a problem if East Coast really wanted to keep them past Dec).
Im starting to think TPE would be the logical next home, its the right timeframe for a 350/185 replacement for Scottish and some transpennine services that would offer the opportunity to again slightly increase capacity (of course platform lengthenings would be required), Chiltern would probably want some to replace some of its rakes if it decides to keep using locomotives but I cant see where else they would naturally find a good home as its doubtful whether they would be converted to ERTMS, which would rule out the Great Western from 2025 (date old lights due to be switched off after several years of parallel operation) as well as Thameslink and Crossrail, not that they would have the slightest chance of being used there. Scotland probably wouldnt be interested in stock then over 30 years old with their policy of prioritising a young fleet. Nowhere else I could think of would want that large a fleet.
Im starting to think TPE would be the logical next home, its the right timeframe for a 350/185 replacement for Scottish and some transpennine services that would offer the opportunity to again slightly increase capacity (of course platform lengthenings would be required), Chiltern would probably want some to replace some of its rakes if it decides to keep using locomotives but I cant see where else they would naturally find a good home as its doubtful whether they would be converted to ERTMS, which would rule out the Great Western from 2025 (date old lights due to be switched off after several years of parallel operation) as well as Thameslink and Crossrail, not that they would have the slightest chance of being used there. Scotland probably wouldnt be interested in stock then over 30 years old with their policy of prioritising a young fleet. Nowhere else I could think of would want that large a fleet.
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