Ive recently been thinking about Shipley and if its really a barrier to anything longer than 6 car trains.
Which has got me thinking about Aire Valley and Wharf Valley services which really ought to remain 4 car minimum.
They will be booked for 4 car or 6 car so no worries there.
Back to the 350s I would use them for all triangle services and double them up during peaks.
There’s no room for 8 car trains. Shipley depot has been designed for 331/333’s and the recent track/signalling works for Leeds platforms 0-6 accounts for the planned max 6 car formations. Skipton Broughton Road sidings wouldn’t accommodate the additional units required either. Platforms on the network are being extended for max 6 car formations and you cannot stop an 8 car EMU at Shipley p2 as it would block the junction (Leeds - Skipton is the busiest route and doesn’t need 8 car trains in any case).
It would cost a hell of a lot of money and be prohibitively disruptive for a very long time to make the network suitable for 8 car 350’s especially after spending so much money on making the network suitable for 6 cars.
Then there’s the interim period which needs considering. Units will be needed for fitter/staff training alongside the current fleet. Where are these going to be stabled? That’s before we consider the cost of staff training.
Let the 331s replace the 323s in Greater Manchester!
Which services are you cutting out then? You are suggesting that 9 x 331’s should replace 34 x 323’s.
All this disruption and huge cost just so the more expensive to lease 350/2’s can find a new home?