If tilt stock is available (390) why would NR spend anything to improve the track alignment instead? Also, what if TPE decided to use possibly cheap 390s on their Scotland routes, maybe starting back from say Crewe or Birmingham as say open access? We (and the ROSCOs) need to get out of the box and think about how we can best use what we/they have.
I recall reading a report in the Rail News last year which stated that Network Rail will seek to raise speeds in straight sections to speeds up to 125mph. Not track alignment, but raising speeds on straight sections.
HS2 will not use Pendolinos. And the rolling stock specification for HS2 is non tilt.
As far as I can see, it's still in question whether or not Network Rail intend to maintain tilt north of Crewe after HS2. If 390s are going to be more like stopping services, and HS2 is to be the more premier service, then there won't really be much of a requirement for Network Rail to spend millions in maintaining the track to tilt standards when HS2 trains cannot tilt anyway.
XC Voyagers had tilt equipment removed. Possible that this could happen with 390s.
Well the HS2 paradox is that its 360km/h stock has the prospect of being stuck at 110mph north of Crewe.
Passengers have the prospect of extended journey times compared to now, say 15 minutes over a 390.
I think the DfT will want to improve the northern WCML for CC trains, but what is affordable is for WCP and NR to work out.
The business case increases when Edinburgh trains run via HS2 and the WCML.
TPE had the chance of buying tilting trains last year, and plumped for bargain non-tilt EMUs instead.
The plan seems to be that services do run non tilt on the Northern WCML, bit at speeds up to 125mph,on straight sections which could be raised to 125mph with apparently little work in places.
I heard a figure banded about of a 15 minute improvement from Euston to Glasgow Central via HS2 phase one, and then classic lines from Rugeley. Would be more if it was t for unable to use tilt.
However, when you consider that a. HS2 is supposedly about capacity and not speed, and b. 390 services will likely be slowed down after HS2, stops inserted etc to make the difference in journey time more drastic, it won't be at all bad. We don't know if 390s will even run to Glasgow after 2026, or if they do, whether they will tilt. So it will become a case of what a HS2 train can do it in Vs what TPE can do the journey in.
Removing 390s from the route, or disabling tilt equipment on 390s would to some extent prevent the DFT from having egg on their faces due to insuperior journey times on non tilt stock.
The livery has nowt to do with it. The Pendolinos are scheduled a repaint, and as such are getting a generic one. The Voyagers are not, and so are not being repainted.
Have the Voyagers had a mid life repaint? Surely it's needed?
Aren't the 390s only really useful on the WCML?
I'd assume after HS2, some could switch to run out of Birmingham and Manchester to Scotland - and they'd run at higher speeds than the HS2 London trains north of Preston!
That said, I think due to MKC demand etc - I imagine most Pendo services will remain, but just add a few more stops and become the semi-fasts.
Yes 390s are only useful in terms of tilt on the WCML. But are Network Rail going to contribute spending hundreds of millions maintaining the track to tilt standards when HS2 is in operation? Possibly doubtful.
-It is far too early to call, even to the point for East Coast, we don't even know who will bid.
-West Coast is possibly in Virgin's favour, given the vast improvements they have delivered in the past franchise
-That being said, nothing is certain, and is still to early
#VIRGIN2019!
Since 2012 the improvements seem to have been fairly limited. Lack of train improvements, no interior refurbishment, poor WiFi, no plan of bi modes or hybrid, lack of new routes except Blackpool.
Also, they seem to have adopted a very Airline sort of image, with air hostess type staff on board (with the exception of train managers). Even on their adverts. This may have been very trendy ten years ago, I'm not so sure today, especially with the age of austerity, and far less of an appetite among society for any sort of 'sexed up' image.
Other TOCs are starting to call themselves 'example example Railway'. And are going back towards Railway nostalgia. Whereas VT seem to run with sort of a more yuppy trendy airline, going on holiday type image with their marketing. Seems to be the only TOC going in that direction?
