TT-ONR-NRN
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From Modern Railways June 2022 issue (in summary):
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It also acknowledges that insufficient 810s have been ordered and one option being considered is to order more (there is an option clause in the existing contract); another being considered is the retention of a small number of diesels, potentially the class 180s - this seems strange in view of what's reported in post 1012
Surely retaining the diesels defeats the objective of the MML electrification? Fair enough if it’s a stopgap solution until then, but ideally it would make more sense to order more 810s. Especially with the 180’s reliability streak with EMR…
It will be good to see some more 3 car sets as some routes are already leaving passengers behind. I know this may not be the case if the full December 2022 timetable is ever delivered. But certainly some services now are unusable because of demand but it is a case of put a 3 car on service x, and take it of service y and it then it is service y leaving passengers behind.
I created a new thread to discuss EMR’s potential retention of 180/222 for IC, just to avoid speculation and off topic discussion on the 170 threadI suppose that a DMU would be permissible as a peak time crowd buster - I think that, in this scenario, people would prioritise extra trains over what power they use. They’d also be useful to provide extra capacity for special events or if there are an unusually high number of 810s with faults at a given time, but they certainly shouldn’t play a role in regular IC operations. Depends on what the DfT authorises/demands, though - I’m certainly with you on several more 810s being ordered.
Personally, I think that four 180s would be a nuisance to retain which such a small number. Two pairs would use them all up with no allowance for maintenance.
I would say ordering more 810s is a far better option. Better for emissions, capacity and fleet commonality.