biggerisbetter
Member
- Joined
- 21 Dec 2016
- Messages
- 29
I accept likely overkill in terms of capacity for all to be used but wondered if Northern could take on the soon to be off-lease 350/2s (assuming they could be obtained cheaply) to:
- Provide additional capacity on electric services
- Allow a rationalisation of electric fleets with say 323s based at Allerton, 350s at Ardwick (is there room?) and 331s at Neville Hill - obviously with stabling elsewhere on the network as required
- Allow replacement of 333s reducing overall fleet age slightly.
Some questions that if answered would help to answer the overall question as to whether it were feasible:
- Could 8 carriage 350s work on Manchester Airport to Blackpool North services using unit de-select at shorter platforms?
- Given the slightly higher top speed compared to existing Northern EMUs, could paths be found for an extension of the Morpeth/Chathill services either further south from Newcastle to Leeds (once electrification is complete) or Doncaster or further north to Berwick or Edinburgh using the 350s to provide a stopping service on the northern part of the ECML?
- When is electrification due to be completed between Neville Hill and Church Fenton? - Had a search for this but couldn't find anything. Once complete, would there be paths / capacity for an electric Leeds to York stopper serving Cross Gates, Garforth, East Garforth, Micklefield, Church Fenton and Ulleskelf?
- Could the 81m 350s be squeezed onto the 74m platforms at Flowery Field and Godley given that there are no signals located at the end of these platforms and that the doors are at 1/3rd and 2/3rds?
Thanks in advance!
- Provide additional capacity on electric services
- Allow a rationalisation of electric fleets with say 323s based at Allerton, 350s at Ardwick (is there room?) and 331s at Neville Hill - obviously with stabling elsewhere on the network as required
- Allow replacement of 333s reducing overall fleet age slightly.
Some questions that if answered would help to answer the overall question as to whether it were feasible:
- Could 8 carriage 350s work on Manchester Airport to Blackpool North services using unit de-select at shorter platforms?
- Given the slightly higher top speed compared to existing Northern EMUs, could paths be found for an extension of the Morpeth/Chathill services either further south from Newcastle to Leeds (once electrification is complete) or Doncaster or further north to Berwick or Edinburgh using the 350s to provide a stopping service on the northern part of the ECML?
- When is electrification due to be completed between Neville Hill and Church Fenton? - Had a search for this but couldn't find anything. Once complete, would there be paths / capacity for an electric Leeds to York stopper serving Cross Gates, Garforth, East Garforth, Micklefield, Church Fenton and Ulleskelf?
- Could the 81m 350s be squeezed onto the 74m platforms at Flowery Field and Godley given that there are no signals located at the end of these platforms and that the doors are at 1/3rd and 2/3rds?
Thanks in advance!