4-SUB 4732
Established Member
- Joined
- 7 Jan 2018
- Messages
- 2,150
Given that Porterbrook said at the time of conversion that they were prepared to take the risk over the then-SWT franchise end, then unless they have been fleecing SWR since because they don't want them full term (if they are, well done!) then they haven't recouped the investment.
The 458/460 programme provided the best value to DfT for the Windsor Lines 10-car project (which also debunks your "over the odds" rental costs claim) - that is why they were chosen. Quite why you think they were to "use up" the 460s I don't know - the availability of the 460s was obviously why Porterbrook could offer the solution in the first place, and probably influenced the commercial terms.
334s do have a toilet, btw....
Not dreadfully sure if it was the best value. It was the quickest available creation of 10 car stock along with the 456s. How much longer would it have taken to build the, erm, 38 (?) 707s and get them in? The 458s made it before the first 707 did from memory. They have had a good run.