Ideas for future of displaced rolling stock

[AlastairFraser]

Unfortunately not - new pantograph wells would have to be cut in, and the aluminium bodyshells of the Networker family are a bugger to modify.
It'd probably be easier to fit diesel engines to the handful of 365s currently in store at Crewe, and even then I don't fancy the chances of that happening (as they're a different box of frogs to the 319s).

Shame about that.Yeah, I'd fancy them as a good quality low-cost bi-mode regional train to cascade 158's on EMT and increase capacity at the same time. Maybe Liverpool Lime Street-Norwich?

 

[59CosG95]

Shame about that.Yeah, I'd fancy them as a good quality low-cost bi-mode regional train to cascade 158's on EMT and increase capacity at the same time. Maybe Liverpool Lime Street-Norwich?

As would I, however, the chances of that happening are next to naught. The Lime St - Norwich route's academic anyway, as there's a plan afoot to split the route in two, turning the section west of Nottingham over to Northern.

 

[AlastairFraser]

As would I, however, the chances of that happening are next to naught. The Lime St - Norwich route's academic anyway, as there's a plan afoot to split the route in two, turning the section west of Nottingham over to Northern.

Which makes the section west of Nottingham even more appetising for 365 use. Especially with the 185's potentially going off to Ireland anyway.

 

[Mikey C]

Scrap the 455s and 456s. The former are getting on for four decades old. There are much newer candidates for conversion to bi-mode / diesel.

The discussion was about the Networkers, i.e. the 465s and 466s!

 

[Goldfish62]

The discussion was about the Networkers, i.e. the 465s and 466s!

Doh! So it was! Apologies.

 

[whhistle]

The 16 3-coach 175s from TfW could be transferred to XC to replace 13 2-coach 170s, giving three extra units to play with. This would make all the Stansted trains guaranteed 3-coaches.
XC to retain their 3-coach 170s.

Send the 13 ex-XC 2-coach 170s to EMT, and together with all 170s (23 units) from WMT, they could replace the whole 153/156 EMT fleet as the numbers of units match exactly.

The 11 Ex-EMT 153s = scrap.
The 15 Ex-EMT 156 to Northern to replace the 150s (the numbers match exactly again).
Northern 150s = scrap.

Very neat indeed.
I realise seats might not match and it's a lot of juggling but would help get rid of some older stock, while giving XC and EMT a fairly decent upgrade.
I imagine the new EMT franchise will get rid of all Sprinter stock from that area anyway but the above means they can get rid of the 158s first and then the newly acquired 170s.

Releasing the 158s from EMT means Northern could then:
Use the ex-EMT 158s (26 units) and the ex-TfW 158s (24 units) to replace the 156s (47 units). This doesn't include the cascaded 156s they'd get from EMT though, so seemingly pointless, but as 158s come off lease, Northen could replace the 156s as and when.

Perhaps Northern should grab the 2-coach 175s (11 units) from TfW and use them to get rid of the 155 class (7 units). Wiki doesn't show the 155s being in use under "future fleet" though.

 

[Harbornite]

Class 707s sent to Southern (Metro) to allow some 377s to replace 313s on the coastway routes. Or something.

 

[VT 390]

Especially with the 185's potentially going off to Ireland anyway.

Why would/should Ireland get some good units which could be put to use replacing older stock in Britain?

 

[ijmad]

In New York City they throw their old subway trains in the sea to make homes for fish.

 

[59CosG95]

Why would/should Ireland get some good units which could be put to use replacing older stock in Britain?

Because they've got major stock shortages of their own.

 

[VT 390]

Because they've got major stock shortages of their own.

Surly they should have some of Britain's older stock and the 185 units should replace older DMUs in Britain with these older DMUs going to Ireland

 

[59CosG95]

Surly they should have some of Britain's older stock and the 185 units should replace older DMUs in Britain with these older DMUs going to Ireland

Pacers, 170s and 185s were offered. All Sprinters (of useful length) are spoken for. Ireland flatly refused Pacers. 170s and 185s seem likely - Irish commuters are sued to modern DMU stock, so they'd see anything of BR vintage as a bit of a downgrade.

 

[VT 390]

Pacers, 170s and 185s were offered. All Sprinters (of useful length) are spoken for. Ireland flatly refused Pacers. 170s and 185s seem likely - Irish commuters are sued to modern DMU stock, so they'd see anything of BR vintage as a bit of a downgrade.

But would it not make more sense to use the better quality trains already in Britain, in Britain before offering other countries our rolling stock?

 

[59CosG95]

But would it not make more sense to use the better quality trains already in Britain, in Britain before offering other countries our rolling stock?

185s are ridiculously overpowered, and their fuel economy leaves much to be desired. Most of their top-link duties are to be replaced with the new TPE stock coming on stream. It also depends on driver and crew knowledge - only TPE and a handful of Northern crews can sign 185s. Anglia are getting Flirt EDMUs, GWR are getting HST GTIs, ScotRail are getting HST GTIs, WMR are getting 196s...you get the idea. Every avenue in the UK for 185s is closing in TPE's face. Hence the choice of Ireland, who are desperate for addition capacity into Dublin.

 

[4-SUB 4732]

Would be really nice to see the 185s entirely operated by South Western Railway to my mind. Great 2/3s door arrangement, comfortable and perfectly suited for the Mule as well as being able to do 100mph.

The extra capacity generated would be great as well with 3 car sets on the ‘Three Rivers’; as well as being able to extend services, operate more trains beyond Salisbury and such.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Why would/should Ireland get some good units which could be put to use replacing older stock in Britain?

Unfortunately, this is about what the ROSCO considers best to boost their future turnover and not what is in the passengers' or even the TOCs' interest. The 185 could end up being split between IE and a British TOC - I agree with 4-SUB above suggesting that they get put on the Waterloo-Exeter route and the Romsey/Bristol Temple Meads branches.But that's up to the DFT.