i think we need to be realistic here. If we are going to send a 5 coach set up to aberdeen from edinburgh and run the same set down again we will need at least one extra service a day to avoid crouding. I'm unsure if there are paths for that on some sections e.g fife circle and going via stirling is slower. Inverness goes via stirling anyway so maybe not so bad. Not certain, but other areas of the network may well have similar challenges.
I'm on the side of those who think this is the wrong idea and is a white elifant! I do however accept that hsts will need replacement.
My solutions:
1. If the mk3s wil do another 25 years, lets have exterior power doors, first class disabled loos and let a contract for a fleat of bi-mode power cars, with coaches being given appropriate mods. This would allow procurement of the correct stock for the correct routes without the clock ticking to replace life expired stock.
2. 10 coach electric ieps for wired runs, deezol locos and displaced mk4 rakes for non wired runs. deezols under wires maybe, but better than voyager fiasco number 2.
3. Bi-mode iep as proposed but with a propperly planned replacement for the turbostars, 158s and 159s which will be left to take all the people left behind by the accountants dream! This could, with some thought be quite easy as 158s, 159s and slightly later 166s, 168s and 170s will need to be replaced. 1 way round this would be to wire the required sections of the xc birmingham - scotland run, introduce an 8 car iep to these runs and cascade internally refurbished voyagers to the likes of scotrail, swt, fgw, chilton etc for there regional express work meaning express sprinter type units could be retired and turbostars transfered to commuter work
if regional opperators can offer enough capacitty on there semi fast or express workings, in some cases using existing paths due to a lack of any more then restrictions on set downs and uplifts could be used to make the 5 car iep just about acceptable. New tocs will be able to say what they want, but more paths and longer platforms cant just be magicked out of thin aire.
I know all of the above are far from ideal so go ahead and shout me down, nicely of course but if we want railways to be a creddit to our country and for all types of people, particularly those who want a vibration free seat in a nice fresh looking and smelling environment, with a place for there luggage to use them rather than cars coaches or aircraft then we need to build the correct train, not the one the pen pushers want.
Edit: 16t of deezol with a 40mph speed caipabilitty on an electric unit might have been handy during recent ecml problems? Diverts for trains not in the affected signaling areas perhaps?
Mine is actually my own photograph and it's a but different being a dutch railways owned ICE train
