Future Uses Of TPE's Fleets When They're Done With Them

[JonathanH]

No, 6 intermediate coaches plus the DVT.

The fact that you can reform the coaching stock does not make it appropriate for Chiltern (or indeed anywhere else).

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thinking on a better use for Mk5s might be North Wales, allowing the Mk4 sets to be binned off. That has long been a haven for loco-haulage of various types.

The fact you can reform it means the length not being correct for a given purpose is not relevant, as you just reform it so it is. That's a benefit of LHCS over units, though some units can be reformed (15x easily enough as each coach basically is a single ended MU in its own right, plus 22x with more work) and some have been in the past.

 

[JonathanH]

Thinking on a better use for Mk5s might be North Wales, allowing the Mk4 sets to be binned off. That has long been a haven for loco-haulage of various types.

Yes, but of course each time loco-haulage has been used it is because there aren't enough units.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, but of course each time loco-haulage has been used it is because there aren't enough units.

Not in the future case in Wales, there has been a deliberate choice to use 67+Mk4 sets because of the InterCity ambiance. As new units are on order, they could just have ordered a few more if they wanted units.

 

[jimm]

Not in the future case in Wales, there has been a deliberate choice to use 67+Mk4 sets because of the InterCity ambiance. As new units are on order, they could just have ordered a few more if they wanted units.

That's a choice made in the light of the current level of financial support provided by the Welsh government.

A future regime could decide it doesn't want to pay for things like a restaurant car service, which would probably put paid to loco-hauled operation as well. These services may be popular with Assembly Members from North Wales but one would have to question the wider benefit to the rest of the Welsh population.

 

[mpthomson]

GWR and ScotRail seem perfectly relaxed about operation of HSTs with their existing gear settings and resulting acceleration for some years to come in places where there isn't an inch of 125mph track.

The HSTs that Scotrail and GWR have are considerably shorter, and therefore lighter and faster accelerating than they were before so they can keep to timings.
Electrification isn’t going to happen under any flavour govt until Network Rail can show that it is capable of competent project management and delivery of projects on time and budget. Grayling was right to call pause when he did, as DfT were just pouring money in for sub-optimal pereformance. Network Rail still haven’t shown that they can.

 

[cactustwirly]

In my opinion it would make more sense to get an upgraded desiro, maybe a bimode version of the desiro verve? Siemens have built a diesel desiro so they can probably build a bimode desiro and the desiro verve has end doors and is more intercity. Plus it will be easier on maintenance as they already have desiros.

Looking at TPE's financial performance, picking 3 smaller fleets may have been a mistake...

Also do the 802s have the range to do the 68/Mk5 routes? 802s have upgraded fuel tanks but are they big enough?

Well if an 802 can do Newbury - Penzance on diesel mode, I'm sure it has plenty of fuel to do TPE routes

 

[tpjm]

Goodness...

Can we get these 44 sets in traffic before we start repurposing them? I’m almost offended by this thread!

 

[Photohunter71]

Use the 68's and Mk5's with dvt for Edinburgh to Newcastle, Edinburgh to Carlisle and Glasgow-Newcastle and Glasgow-Carlisle, or even Tweedbank to Glenrothes. It's just wishful thinking,but a use all the same.

 

[Bevan Price]

Under normal circumstances, the new TPE stock can be expected to last until at least 2050-2055.
By that time, most Voyagers & Pendolinos will probably have gone to the great razor blade factory; a few may have been retained for charter train operations. So - future use of the TP stock is unlikely to be a problem - it will mostly follow the Voyagers, Pendos, into history (not that I expect to be around quite long enough to see that.) Some of the loco hauled TP stock may be a candidate to finally replace Mark 2/3/4 stock in charter fleets.