It seems to me it makes a lot of sense to include the benefits of Kings Cross, Werrington, and the power supply upgrades at the same time, and as we know two of them won’t actually be completed in the near future.
And what would those two be? The PSUs are my guess, although the bare bones parts of PSU1 (Wood Green - Bawtry) necessary to support the 80x fleet south of Doncaster have already been completed, along with Potteric Carr SFC & FS (tacked on to the IEP scope of works rather than PSU1's). PSU2, meanwhile, has a way to go yet AIUI.
Werrington wouldn’t have been finished for May 21 either, although the big civil engineering stuff is done, so that alone would have probably made Dec 21 the first opportunity for changes. I’m also assuming the idea is to wrap up all ECML improvements at once including for example the Middlesbrough service.
Is this 91s heading for scrap? If so do we know which ones?
4x 91s, don't know which sorry.
Just found this article from an old Modern Railways issue: https://www.keymodernrailways.com/article/east-coast-traction-power-supply-uncertainty-continues
102, 113, 126, 129.
yes
One set with 91110 this Tuesday on Leeds. Second set with 91111 on York to Peterborough's from Thursday.
How many sets do LNER still have ready for introduction and do you think we can expect more soon after those two?
Don't know unfortunately. Bit off region for me. If I get anymore solid info I will post of course.
There's seven Mark 4 rakes available. One is on works and assuming one is on maintenance would give 5 rakes.
Of those five rakes four of them are the wrong way round so will need turning via the High Level Bridge unless LNER want issues of people running the length of the platform when the set turns up in reverse formation. Three of those that are the wrong way round are in Doncaster Belmont Yard so will need returning to Neville Hill before preparation for a return to service.
I imagine turning them the right way around isn't a top priority! I believe it's only only a one day prep at NL before they can go back into traffic.
In a word, no.
Isn't there now an issue with crew competence at Newcastle and Edinburgh? Better to keep them on Leeds/York trains where the crews know them and they can be worked back to Neville Hill for maintenance. Hitachi aren't interested in looking after them, hence the move to Neville Hill.
At present the only services confirmed to be getting 91s from Tuesday are those I listed. It is possible for them to work to Newcastle (but not Edinburgh without route conductors), though I'm not presently aware of any plans for them to do so. Four of the sets do however need turning via the High Level Bridge, not clear at the moment when that'll be done and if it'll be done in service or not.
It depends on a number of issues, it is preferred to have the loco on the north end of the set as it makes it much easier to swap the loco quickly if needed, and there's also the issue of last minute dashes down platforms when the train shows up the wrong way round - not too much of a problem just for 1 train but when 4 of them are running like that it's a bit more of an issue.
London, Leeds and Doncaster crew sign to Newcastle so the 91s could work to Newcastle without issues. Edinburgh would require a route conductor.
