New trains are needed now!

[Kneedown]

Well LHCS would slow things down due to slower acc/decelaration, and would also be awkward with the reversing and meridians cannot go over 30mph I think on some parts near Ely

I'm probably wrong though

As i said, LHCS would not be the way forward on this route, and for the reasons you outline.
As regards the speed restrictions for Meridians, the only one that would make any difference is a few miles of 45mph between Queen Adelaide (Norwich) LC and Lakenheath. This wouldn't cause any hardship due to good acceleration of Meridians, long dwell times at Norwich and 125 capability between Grantham and Peterboro.

 

[LE Greys]

As i said, LHCS would not be the way forward on this route, and for the reasons you outline.
As regards the speed restrictions for Meridians, the only one that would make any difference is a few miles of 45mph between Queen Adelaide (Norwich) LC and Lakenheath. This wouldn't cause any hardship due to good acceleration of Meridians, long dwell times at Norwich and 125 capability between Grantham and Peterboro.

This really depends on EMT getting a few more Meridians, which they should, but I have a feeling that they will use them to offload their HSTs to somewhere else. If XC took them up, that might not be such a bad thing, and it would allow XC to use Voyagers on some of the former Central routes and offload a few Turbostars somewhere. However, I'm afraid they would probably go into store (possibly because of their VP185 power units being non-standard). It's possible that XC might trade in their MTU-fitted power cars for the VP-fitted ones, providing a few spare power cars (perhaps for Grand Central while their Valenta-fitted ones get re-engined). Still, that's not the way it works these days. Juggling fleets is a complicated business, because of all the people involved. It's also costly. That's an inevitable result of the supposedly flexible privatisation system being inflexible.

 

[MCR247]

If XC got more HSTs on a dry lease like voyagers, then they'd double up voyagers, not replace adequate 170s

 

[tbtc]

This really depends on EMT getting a few more Meridians, which they should, but I have a feeling that they will use them to offload their HSTs to somewhere else. If XC took them up, that might not be such a bad thing, and it would allow XC to use Voyagers on some of the former Central routes and offload a few Turbostars somewhere

I agree with EMT getting enough long Meridians to replace all HSTs (as well as some to replace some 158s), as there are clear benefits to running one type of Intercity train.

However, I can't see the point in putting Voyagers on the Nottingham - Cardiff route or the Birmingham - Stanstead line. Neither needs 125mph running, and a four car Voyager would have *fewer* seats than a three car Turbostar.

 

[MCR247]

I agree with EMT getting enough long Meridians to replace all HSTs (as well as some to replace some 158s), as there are clear benefits to running one type of Intercity train.

However, I can't see the point in putting Voyagers on the Nottingham - Cardiff route or the Birmingham - Stanstead line. Neither needs 125mph running, and a four car Voyager would have *fewer* seats than a three car Turbostar.

Exactly, those routes need an 'Inter regional' train like a 170, not an intercity train

 

[tbtc]

Exactly, those routes need an 'Inter regional' train like a 170, not an intercity train

Spot on

Doubling up Voyagers may be wasteful (compared to one eight/ten coach train), but its a better use of resources than a Voyager going to Stanstead

 

[Anvil1984]

So where and when do you think the next new stock will be ordered / go to, its ok saying the cupboard is bare / we have no money but as mentionned in another quite large thread all trains need to be DDA compliant by 2020 and for example I think currently (I could be wrong as don't work 323s) at Northern only the class 333s are DDA compliant, and it would take a lot of work for some of them, not so much for others. Off top my head basic issues are

142/144 toilet not accessable from current space, toilet not wheelchair accessible, no audio/visual announcements, double step entrance causing problems for ramps
150/155/156 should be ok just needs a toilet refit and audio/visual announcements
158 (surprising one) would need a toilet refit which is harder than others do due to one of the cupboards with a couple of isolation cocks being in the way and the toilet being front onto the seats where most toilet doors are side on if that makes sense also AV announcements
153, probably too small for new bogs so old one probably just to locked OOU

I'm sure it takes about 2 - 3 years between the tendering notice and the order being completed