Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
That's an interesting piece of work. It's unfortunate that First/MTR haven't been specific about how they will achieve the extra seats. You've calculated 11,580 extra seats. They've said "52,000 extra seats across the morning and evening peaks" (I'm quoting from how you've put in in your post). If "across" means both in and out, morning and evening, you've identified how over 46,000 seats might be found. The rest might come from the internal layout of the Aventras and the extra passenger space from not having intermediate cabs - they'd save four intermediate cabs on 10 cars of 455/456. As you say, we'll find out more, gradually, I expect, after they take over.
Plus... some of the units will be making more than one run in or out during each peak; already some of the shorter distance terminating workings like Epsom dash back ecs to Waterloo to operate a second outgoing peak working. Units on Hampton Court services also have enough time to run two services each evening peak as well.
That will add to the numbers.