This is a bit of a 'might have been' scenario. From here and other sources, we know that the Networker project was going to go a lot farther than the five classes we ended up with. It's just general curiosity, coming from a post in a previous thread (which I'm too lazy to find). I hope it's in the right section, moderators please feel free to move it if need-be.
The 165s ended up on Chiltern and Thames Valley services, while the 166s were exclusively Thames Valley and Cotswold Line. I've always thought they were hopelessly inadequate as replacements for the 50s and MkIIs that used to work the Cotswold, but that's just an opinion. There was also a Class 167 on order, which eventually turned into the 168s. Would they have been more comfortable and faster? Would they have spread to the Cotswold, releasing stock to replace the Thumpers?
On our line, we ended up with 365s, they were a spin-off from the 465s. Originally, it was going to be a batch of 371s, also intended for Thameslink with the two sectors merging when Thameslink 2000 was complete. Presumably, there would have been enough to replace the 317s on all Great Northern services, thus freeing them up for a cascade somewhere else. Ilford still had a batch of 312s at the time, so that's possible, but LTS seems far more likely, I reckon. The 319s would also have been freed up to go somewhere.
The 465s and 466s were direct replacements for the ageing EPB stock on Kent Link. I don't think they would spread to the other sectors, 455s and 456s were still fairly new. However, the NLL is a possibility, since I reckon they could be fitted for dual-system working.
There was also the 381 'Universal Networker'. This was mostly a CIG/VEP replacement (basically, something like the 377 and 450) but would have been dual-system, giving the option of putting it on the WCML, freeing up the 321s for cascade. Again, Ilford and East Ham seem the most likely places for them to end up (looks like Great Eastern and LTS end up as a retirement-home for old stock).
Finally, there was the 471 'Main Line Networker', a CEP replacement for the Kent Coast. This seems like a direct replacement (like the 375) and would not cause any kind of cascade. I presume they would have complimented the 442s fairly well, but probably would not be as good.
Not forgetting the 341s for Crossrail and the 342s for the CTRL (100 mph commuter EMUs mixing it with Eurostars on a dedicated high-speed line hock: ). Presumably, that would result in a cascade of 165s and 166s, with the 315s being scrapped. So some nearly-new DMUs to go somewhere.
There also might well be a derivative for Regional Railways, perhaps a 168 with a 165's body and a 471's gangwayed cabs. That sounds like a good idea, the question is where it would have gone.
The 165s ended up on Chiltern and Thames Valley services, while the 166s were exclusively Thames Valley and Cotswold Line. I've always thought they were hopelessly inadequate as replacements for the 50s and MkIIs that used to work the Cotswold, but that's just an opinion. There was also a Class 167 on order, which eventually turned into the 168s. Would they have been more comfortable and faster? Would they have spread to the Cotswold, releasing stock to replace the Thumpers?
On our line, we ended up with 365s, they were a spin-off from the 465s. Originally, it was going to be a batch of 371s, also intended for Thameslink with the two sectors merging when Thameslink 2000 was complete. Presumably, there would have been enough to replace the 317s on all Great Northern services, thus freeing them up for a cascade somewhere else. Ilford still had a batch of 312s at the time, so that's possible, but LTS seems far more likely, I reckon. The 319s would also have been freed up to go somewhere.
The 465s and 466s were direct replacements for the ageing EPB stock on Kent Link. I don't think they would spread to the other sectors, 455s and 456s were still fairly new. However, the NLL is a possibility, since I reckon they could be fitted for dual-system working.
There was also the 381 'Universal Networker'. This was mostly a CIG/VEP replacement (basically, something like the 377 and 450) but would have been dual-system, giving the option of putting it on the WCML, freeing up the 321s for cascade. Again, Ilford and East Ham seem the most likely places for them to end up (looks like Great Eastern and LTS end up as a retirement-home for old stock).
Finally, there was the 471 'Main Line Networker', a CEP replacement for the Kent Coast. This seems like a direct replacement (like the 375) and would not cause any kind of cascade. I presume they would have complimented the 442s fairly well, but probably would not be as good.
Not forgetting the 341s for Crossrail and the 342s for the CTRL (100 mph commuter EMUs mixing it with Eurostars on a dedicated high-speed line hock: ). Presumably, that would result in a cascade of 165s and 166s, with the 315s being scrapped. So some nearly-new DMUs to go somewhere.
There also might well be a derivative for Regional Railways, perhaps a 168 with a 165's body and a 471's gangwayed cabs. That sounds like a good idea, the question is where it would have gone.