Pacers for Swanage?

[pompeyfan]

With the Swanage railway struggling to get their 1st gen DMU into traffic and potentially missing out on lots of traffic, is this an opportunity to look at pacers or any other DMU at the end of their mainline working lives? All stock is already mainline certified, and I’m pretty certain it was discussed on here that the rumour about pacers and 3rd rail not being friends was quashed... any thoughts?

 

[swt_passenger]

With the Swanage railway struggling to get their 1st gen DMU into traffic and potentially missing out on lots of traffic, is this an opportunity to look at pacers or any other DMU at the end of their mainline working lives? All stock is already mainline certified, and I’m pretty certain it was discussed on here that the rumour about pacers and 3rd rail not being friends was quashed... any thoughts?

Whatever they use instead, I think passenger’s expectations have moved on. A couple of superannuated mk1 DMUs is fine for a preserved line but for a year round ‘proper’ commuter service, is it really going to be acceptable? I’ve always thought the local council have set standards for this service as low as they can get away with. IIRC when they first obtained these trains it was so long ago they were still in normal use on the national network...

 

[Journeyman]

Whatever they use instead, I think passenger’s expectations have moved on. A couple of superannuated mk1 DMUs is fine for a preserved line but for a year round ‘proper’ commuter service, is it really going to be acceptable? I’ve always thought the local council have set standards for this service as low as they can get away with. IIRC when they first obtained these trains it was so long ago they were still in normal use on the national network...

You're absolutely right. It's worth noting that no heritage railway has yet successfully launched an all-year-round commuter service, and I can't help feeling the only reason so many enthusiasts like the idea is because they want an opportunity to regularly ride something ancient.

Commuters have completely different expectations.

 

[pompeyfan]

I agree to an extent to both points above, but I’ve seen the traffic around that part of Dorset, and a genuine viable alternative is needed. The only other option is to bring the whole thing back into permanent NR infrastructure, but that would likely cost too much

 

[Train Maniac]

Whatever they use instead, I think passenger’s expectations have moved on. A couple of superannuated mk1 DMUs is fine for a preserved line but for a year round ‘proper’ commuter service, is it really going to be acceptable? I’ve always thought the local council have set standards for this service as low as they can get away with. IIRC when they first obtained these trains it was so long ago they were still in normal use on the national network...

Chiltern seemed to get away with it, with the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury shuttles...

 

[swt_passenger]

Chiltern seemed to get away with it, with the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury shuttles...

Yes, that did cross my mind actually.

Did they get reintroduced by Chiltern after many years, or had they stayed in service? I just can’t remember...

 

[yorksrob]

Rather than a 1st gen DMU, how about a 205 Thumper. It would also have a ring of authenticity, since they were used on the line when open.