Speculation on Class 397 future

[D365]

Why would they replace the 397s considering they just entered service? If they were going to replace them from the get-go, may as well have cancelled the order back in 2017/18 and ordered more 802s! Not to mention the Mk5as are also CAF built and both are maintained at Longsight.

Several rolling stock manufacturers had expressed an interest in tendering for LNER's additional units to replace the remaining IC225s. On this basis, given that the tender doesn't appear to be progressing (lack of money?), I'd speculate that the Class 397s could be made available to LNER.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Several rolling stock manufacturers had expressed an interest in tendering for LNER's additional units to replace the remaining IC225s. On this basis, given that the tender doesn't appear to be progressing (lack of money?), I'd speculate that the Class 397s could be made available to LNER.

Would they want a microfleet?

 

[D365]

Would they want a microfleet?

It’s going to be a microfleet in any case, given that Hitachi (likely) doesn’t produce Class 801s anymore.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It’s going to be a microfleet in any case, given that Hitachi (likely) doesn’t produce Class 801s anymore.

Hitachi does still produce 80x (i.e. AT300 bi-modes). The last number doesn't matter, it's being used like a subclass.

 

[D365]

Hitachi does still produce 80x (i.e. AT300 bi-modes). The last number doesn't matter, it's being used like a subclass.

But the AT300 variants do differ at a technical level; Class 803 onwards are a development of the earlier Class 80x that were developed out of IEP. Hence my comment that it’ll be a micro fleet in any case.

 

[Bletchleyite]

But the AT300 variants do differ at a technical level; Class 803 onwards are a development of the earlier Class 80x that were developed out of IEP. Hence my comment that it’ll be a micro fleet in any case.

They're not different enough to really be a microfleet, a bit like the two Class 150/0s that GWR have don't really form a microfleet because they also have a load of /2s.

 

[MattRat]

I get the feeling someone really doesn't like the 80x....

OP will have to get used to it though, as more and more standardization comes into play, especially when we get GBR. I see a lot of perfectly good trains going to the scrap yard simply because they aren't a large batch.

 

[DanNCL]

I very much doubt the 397s will leave TPE. They are well suited to the Manchester - Scotland route, and there’s just about the right number of them for the job.

If the 397s were to leave TPE, the place I see them going is Lumo. 12x 397s to Lumo would allow a doubling of capacity in the existing paths, and the 803s could move the other way reducing the number of new 80xs TPE would have to order to compensate for the loss of the 397s.

As for LNER, they’re going to have a microfleet of some description regardless what their rolling stock plan is. It makes more sense for them to keep the microfleet they’ve already got than to take the 397s, which would be thoroughly unsuitable for LNER for a variety of reasons.

 

[D365]

This thread was wholly intended as wobble, based on the discussion going on here. But…

I get the feeling someone really doesn't like the 80x....

OP will have to get used to it though, as more and more standardization comes into play, especially when we get GBR. I see a lot of perfectly good trains going to the scrap yard simply because they aren't a large batch.

I’m not sure where on earth you get this from. The only post in which I vaguely compared the Class 397s to the Class 801s, was the original post.

GBR isn’t going to have a blank cheque to fund endless new orders, even if it continues to do so through leasing companies. So if by some miracle, TPE does end up with more brand new rolling stock, there will be some interest in seeing the Class 397s land elsewhere.

 

[Kite159]

I very much doubt the 397s will leave TPE. They are well suited to the Manchester - Scotland route, and there’s just about the right number of them for the job.

If the 397s were to leave TPE, the place I see them going is Lumo. 12x 397s to Lumo would allow a doubling of capacity in the existing paths, and the 803s could move the other way reducing the number of new 80xs TPE would have to order to compensate for the loss of the 397s.

As for LNER, they’re going to have a microfleet of some description regardless what their rolling stock plan is. It makes more sense for them to keep the microfleet they’ve already got than to take the 397s, which would be thoroughly unsuitable for LNER for a variety of reasons.

Can't see them going to Lumo, especially as the 397s are quite low dense in terms of interior (many tables) whereas the Lumo stock is reasonably high dense (mostly all airline seating all standard class). Will just cost them to re-fit the shaky 397s to be more suited for their business model.