Could the flex (or a 321 varient) be a good option for Southern on the Marshlink from Ashford to Eastbourne? I am thinking...
- I understand that about half of the line is electrified, I think with 3rd rail. That makes it an excellent candidate.
- Marshlink services are often 2 carriages and overcrowded but the platforms can take 4 carriages.
- There is not a hope in hell this line will be electrified to take HS1 servicee whatever chatter there may be about doing that. There are about a million priorities in the north above this. This is therefore the best upgrade passengers on that line could hope for with a de facto doubling of capacity on perfectly comfortable trains for that particular run.
- The released DMUs could be put to very good work in the north until the wire knitting community gets its act together.
They would need SDO as a few stations down there can only fit 1 carriage!