Rumours have surfaced that whoever wins the northern franchise in 2016 will be offered BR Class 442's once the Gatwick express route (southern trains) has been given new rolling stock in 2018.
The 442's would need to be changed from 3rd rail to overhead power to be used on such routes as Liverpool - Manchester Victoria & Liverpool - Scotland routes via Wigan as a semi fast service.
As the 442's are from the 90s these would be a better than the proposed BR Class 319s (14 sets) from the 80s being given to northern rail between now and 2015.
The 442's would need to be changed from 3rd rail to overhead power to be used on such routes as Liverpool - Manchester Victoria & Liverpool - Scotland routes via Wigan as a semi fast service.
As the 442's are from the 90s these would be a better than the proposed BR Class 319s (14 sets) from the 80s being given to northern rail between now and 2015.