RUK
Member
Since TfW are lacking extra Class 197s to cover for/replace their Class 230s, and apparently there are extra Class 196s, does it make sense for Class 196s to replace the Class 230s, which could then go to GWR? When GWR order their Project Churchward DMUs, I guess they are likely to be CAF DMUs, since there is no diesel Aventra, and Siemens hasn’t produced a diesel Desiro for a long time, unless Hitachi come up with a diesel AT100/AT200, or Alstom/Bombardier can get an order for their bi-mode Aventra design, which hasn’t been successful in securing any orders yet. So Project Churchward, if they are CAF DMUs, could provide the longer-term replacement for the Class 230s, if extra trains are added to the order to top up the Class 197 fleet, since the Class 196s will be going to East-West Rail. How realistic is this order to cover several TOCs?
