Rolling Stock companies ('ROSCOs')

[Eagle]

Or transfer them within the group

Who to? None of the other First operators use or need HSTs. Unless they win East Coast, of course.

Also doing that would probably breach regulations about keeping fleets separate, so officially they'd have to sell or lease them to the receiving TOC.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure the DfT wouldn't be too happy about the new GW franchise losing several services due to fewer HSTs, because First decide to cover their own arses rather than do the sensible thing and pass the HSTs on to the GW incumbent.

 

[455driver]

What would happen if a ROSCO speculatively ordered say 10 Desiro/Electrostar or Turbostar trains?

DaFT would get upset, throw their teddy out of the pram and that ROSCO wouldnt win any more orders for a very long time!

In business you dont bite the hand that feeds you!