What is the logic behind five car Class 80Xs for the new franchise. I am aware that a five car Class 802 is roughly the same length and has the same seating capacity as 2 x Class 185s. What I mean is were the nine car variants not considered at all? Previously I have been on 2 x Class 350 services with have been very busy and that was back in 2014/15.
5-car IEPs are now a well-known quantity and will be in service around the country with GWR and VTEC before TPE gets them.
The GWR order for 5-car trains had options for more of the same, which is the core of the TPE order.
9-car IEPs would not fit in some key TPE stations (Manchester Airport/Oxford Road/Victoria/Salford Crescent and several other stations on their network.
With 5-car trains, you could double up to 10-car on some services (long platforms only), but longer trains could not double up.
The IEP design means that inserting more vehicles is possible, and the long production timescale means vehicles will be available if there is a business case.
After most of the current orders are in service, say by 2020, there might be scope to fine-tune train lengths.
But now, it's more a question of playing fairly safe until the new order settles in.
Remember that Network Rail's ability to extend station platforms is limited and takes an age to deliver.
Also, the costs are significant and you have to have an eye on the impact on premiums to DfT (who will have to OK an order for longer trains).
