Gangways - compulsory for all rolling stock?

[BestWestern]

I would completely agree that cab-end gangway connections should be standard on all stock, I fail to see any reason why units (excluding Voyagers/Pendo's and suchlike) should be built without them. Bearing in mind the almost inevitable cascading in mid/later life, it is surely short sighted to disregard gangway provision at the order stage simply because it is not needed in the initial application a particular train is required for. It's strange that DC electric stock leaves the factory with a panto well just in case, but a gangway is still optional. This isn't just a privatisation thing though, the 150/0 and /1 units are a prime example. These were built to non-gangway spec, despite being a large fleet distributed across the network, with a very high likelihood of multiple working. They now regularly work with later stock which has gangways which obviously cannot be used. Just plain daft.

Sadly, common sense has still not prevailed. What should be in place is a set of standardised approved specs for all new rolling stock, to ensure future compatibility, rather than the current free for all where you can order whatever you like and sod what happens in 15 years' time when it gets sent somewhere else.