Can someone point me in the direction of plans for the released 450s from the Reading route? ie what services will be strengthened, what will happen to the remaining diesel over 3rd rail diagrams etc. I'm sure it's been discussed before, but I can't find the thread.
Thanks.
Apart from the west of England route, there are only a small number of DMUs now that run on purely third rail routes, it has been gradually reducing.
I've now added an updated list from the Dec 16 CWNs of the only DMUs I can find working entirely over third rail, however I haven't listed the all day Lymington shuttle to save space:
2T14 0500 Portsmouth Hbr to Basingstoke 3.159
2T69 2221 Basingstoke to Portsmouth Hbr 3.159
2T75 0030 Eastleigh to Portsmouth Hbr 2.158
(the above train is part of the Lymington shuttle DMU cycle - it forms the next morning’s 5E18 Portsmouth - Totton ECS for start of Romsey service.)
2B91 1638 Winchester to Totton 3.159
(formed off 5B91 from Salisbury via Basingstoke - returns as 5B98 ECS via Totton Yard to Barton Mill )
The Lymington shuttle ought to become 450 operated, and the odd few Hampshire locals could become 450 operated, except the one that runs Winchester - Totton in the evening peak, because it uses a non-electrified siding at Totton to reverse. (The latter service could always be altered to run somewhere else of course, we just don't really know.)
With 5 x 450s expected to take over the Ascot Guildford service, and one for Lymington, and part of a single unit diagram for 2T14 and 2T69 replacement, I reckon you'll have about 10 or 11 to strengthen some existing mainline shoulder peak 8 x 450s up to 12 car.
I think this was previously explained by one of the SWT insiders, probably in a different thread?