Would it improve journey times as well as the 185s can only do 100mph where as the 180s can do 125mph?
I know that 125mph is only permitted for tilting trains on the WCML but aren't there some 110mph stretches they can make up time on?
Nope, as explained above, a 185 can accelerate to 100mph quicker than a 180 (or 220/221) can, which explains why journey times from Manchester didn't increase when the route changed to TPE.
Glad to see them being used, but:
1. Its not enough for the TPE Scottish services (especially with TPE throwing more units at it at each timetable change)
2. The displaced 185s or 180s are going to be "non standard" at Northern (if, indeed Northern do get a replacement) - better to have 170s go to ScotRail and 158s move to Northern instead?
3. Presumably this would mean an end to the portion working with Barrow services (plus the recently introduced Blackpool portion)
Then again, if this means TPE end up using more 158s on the South Transpennine route (and not two car 170s) I can't complain as much...
Over on wnxx, they're discussing the possibility of the 180s staying with Northern, with the other 2 joining them.
However, if the 180s do transfer to TPE, then there is some MIA - Scotland services they can not be used on, as they are diagrammed for a pair of 185s as far as Preston where they then split, the front unit carrying on to Scotland, the rear unit for somewhere in the North West.
PS. I'll settle for some 3 car 158s on the South TPE route instead of the 170s
:P