All the 175s and the 3 car Chiltern 165s (assuming other stock turns up there) would be 103 cars, so would fit. And all under 1 ROSCO.
Looks to be a gradual introduction, so Dec 27 would be the last unit to be accepted by GWR.
Yes, looks like a box ticking exercise for the 175s and 165s. Good example of the bureaucracy and cost imposed on the railway since privatisation.
More to do with increased DfT control. Procurement rules mean that anything of significant value needs to go out to public tender. Tenders are often written with something in mind, see Great Northern's recent procurement.
I reckon 175s for Cardiff-Penzance, Barnstaple and Okehampton. 158s focused on Cardiff - Portsmouth and 150s on the remaining Cornwall branches and Exmouth with the 150s in worst condition scrapped.
It was different for cascading existing BR stock and that’s my point. The result of this procurement is known already (as was GN 379s).
That, I imagine, depends on other decisions…
It can't be ruled out, Chiltern are running 2 procurements, one for DMUs and one to replace the longer distance stock (some of their mk3s are over 45 years old).
I agree this looks like an interim fleet from 2027 for perhaps 3-8 years.
Unlikely. Gunnislake and Looe can be problematic with longer stock so 150s will still be kept around for them. 175s on Barnstable and Okehampton should allow the worst of the 150s to be scrapped, that should give some spare parts to keep the rest of the fleet going.
So what’s the significance of the May 2028 date?
It'll be the aspirational date for GWRs new fleet. May 2028 is just after the end of that financial year. First Group's management contract goes on a bit longer till June 2028.
Ah right, so as in “this is as far as we’re prepared to commit ourselves, but just try and find another taker who’ll give you a better offer for your 175s!”*
Yes, I am aware. I should have been clearer - moving 175s to WR under BR would not have involved a procurement.
It was reported recently elsewhere (WNXX) that all 34 Porterbrook GWR 150 vehicles are scheduled for a further C6 commencing shortly.
I doubt very much if BR had continued as was that there would be a procurement exercise to use an existing train from Cardiff to Penzance rather than Manchester.
Isn't it time the 150's were gone surely? Good trains and no doubt still reliable but the last thing we want is these having regular issues with no trains to replace them.
More to do with the size, or more strictly value, if they were simply renting / hiring a train short term might be excluded. Basically same principle as a utility hiring a digger from plant hire company as not enough capacity in own fleet.
And the requirement is for a “trickle introduction” till Dec 2027, which also sounds like tailoring towards a fleet that isn’t all yet available (as well as a requirement that isn’t for all at once)
The planned lease date has passed. But TfW have not met the lease return conditions so they remain on lease until such time as TfW fix them to Angel’s satisfaction. So availability of the rest of the fleet (6 sets handed back so far) depends on TfW pulling their finger out and fixing them.
Of course fixing them requires depot space at a suitable location so may not be the quickest process due to this.
But it also puts the Rosco in a difficult position if in a few months, someone wants them, because they might not be ready to be redelivered, and Angel cannot really say when they will be available, they don't really know if it will be 2 weeks or 2 years extra.
That presumably being Project Churchward - not any interim solution which may or may not be 175s.DfT have updated their procurement spreadsheet for May.
GWR is showing as delivery 2029-2031 for estimated 480 vehicles
Dates showing as estimated procurement start 01/02/25
Dates showing as estimated start 01/03/26
Future commercial contracts for DfT and partners
Listing of upcoming Department for Transport (DfT) and associated bodies commercial contracts – known as the commercial pipeline – for which bidders may apply.www.gov.uk
