170 were a little short but HSTs aren't the correct solution on my opinion, the best would be flirts.
Glasgow to Inverness is 168 miles and is an about 3 journey, with a bigger fuel tank a train could do 2 trips to Inverness and 2 trips back to Glasgow, by then it's been over 12 hours in service and would probably need to go to the depot anyway.Not with a 500 to 600 mile (or so) fuel tank.
Glasgow to Inverness is 168 miles and is an about 3 journey, with a bigger fuel tank a train could do 2 trips to Inverness and 2 trips back to Glasgow, by then it's been over 12 hours in service and would probably need to go to the depot anyway.
Indeed, there is lots of electrification in parts of other routes as wellAdmittedly if it was a Bi-mode Stadler it would operate in Electric mode between Stirling and Glasgow. Less so towards Edinburgh.
Glasgow to Inverness is 168 miles and is an about 3 journey, with a bigger fuel tank a train could do 2 trips to Inverness and 2 trips back to Glasgow, by then it's been over 12 hours in service and would probably need to go to the depot anyway.
Where? as far as Haymarket out of Waverly? Nothing north of Dunblane is electrified.Indeed, there is lots of electrification in parts of other routes as well
I do not believe there is anywhere near the political or economic will to invest so heavily in rolling stock.170 were a little short but HSTs aren't the correct solution on my opinion, the best would be flirts.
Flirts might not yet be as reliable as HSTs but they've only been in service less than 6 months.Stadler flirts have had quite a lot of issues too to be honest, people look at other areas and think it's amazing, but there have been a plethora of problems with the 755s, and people saying similar stuff about GA as people here talking about Abellio SR. HSTs have been working now quite reliably since new year which is unfortunately not something that can be said of the flirts.
HSTs have been reliable, seemingly it's been crew knowledge that was the issue (rumours abound of fitters not knowing how to reset APT speedometers etc), as 40+ year old stock doesn't just become more reliable over the christmas holidays, although it does appear the first few sets delivered by Wabtec were rather questionable, as from the 7th set onwards they've all entered service within a few days compared to potentially weeks with early delivered sets such as HA19.Flirts might not yet be as reliable as HSTs but they've only been in service less than 6 months.
How long have Scotrail had HSTs for...? and we are talking about them being quite reliable since the new year ie not quite 2 weeks!
My understanding was all the other bidders just said something along the lines of displaced stock from the EGIP would go to work for the services HSTs are now serving, which is why Abellio's proposal was chosen as it promised a vast improvement instead of just doubling up 158s and 170s.IIRC FirstGroup or one of the other bidders proposed new build 68+Mk5a sets instead of HSTs.