Merely suggesting options which ensure solid usable units don't go to scrap and are deployed on appropriate routes.
I’m sure there is a role somewhere for a company that requires a micro fleet of 11 2 car units and 16 3 car units. It could even be abroad. You just seem obsessed with them, firstly on the Cumbria services they used to work across a corridor that end door stock is troublesome despite what you say and then in the North East due to some tittle tattle you say you heard that nobody else was party to.
The hill-climbing abilities of 185s isn't particularly essential anymore as 195s can do it just as well. The Calder Valley might not be a 'stopping service', but it's not far off and not really an express route because there are quite a lot of stops - hence it would be more appropriate to keep 195s on the route rather than using 185s.
Yes the 195’s are excellent units but the thread if you haven’t noticed is about how to make sprinters extinct. My suggestion is a way to re-employ 51 units on routes that they mostly cleared for which they are also ideally suited due to their combination of doors at thirds with an inter-regional interior (altering FC to SC) thereby cascading 195’s to other routes which they are already or easily cleared for to allow for 150 replacement.
This plan would most likely see off the 150/1’s and possibly some 150/2’s also. I’ll add to that that a substantial order for bi-mode Civity’s can then see off the rest of the 15x fleet.
Of course you also dismissed the semi-fast nature of the Calder Valley services too. I shouldn’t be surprised.
So, the 1Jxx services have an average of around 10-12 minutes between station stops. Hardly close to being a stopper.
The 1D/1Exx around 8-10 minutes across the core and substantially longer west of Manchester. Hardly close to being a stopper.
The 2I/2Rxx have more stops but I would still say an average of around 6-8 minutes between stops, some parts up to 12 minutes. Hardly close to being a stopper.
The 1Bxx services across Copy Pit have substantially more between stops sometimes 15-20 minutes. Hardly close to being a stopper.
The 2Kxx services are stoppers from Micklefield to Cross Gates (between 2&5 minutes for these 4 stops). Other parts of the route it’s anywhere from 5 minutes up to 12-15 minutes between stops. Hardly close to being a stopper.
These are not the 2-5 minutes between stops which I agree the 195’s are more suited to but I’m sure you won’t let facts get in the way eh?
My original suggestion was to send 185s to SWR intercity routes to replace much older 158s and 159s. This was rejected point blank but why?
Why 185’s to SWR won’t work has been explained by those in the area that use/work them so many times. Why won’t you just accept that?
If weight is an issue then there is an option to put smaller engines in to reduce the weight.
Can you give us the ease of this and the costings for this please? You love your ‘easy/cheap’ options.
Again other options include using them on services currently operated by HSTs, or to replace Cross Country 170s on Nottingham to Cardiff. In my opinion all of these options would be better than Northern Hope Valley or Calder Valley - the 195 is ideal for these routes.
Avanti 221’s would be the best option for XC to replace HST’s. See the many threads. 185’s aren’t even in the equation.
Nottingham- Cardiff? Now I’m (even more) confused by you. These are Cross Country’s inter-regional services taken over from Central Trains in 2007. I thought you said 185’s were unsuitable for this sort of work or are you predictably going to go with the ‘cross country is solely an Intercity operator’ line despite the fact the ex CT routes are purely Inter-regional hence the use of inter-regional 170’s.
The 175s are ideal 156 and 158 replacements; Northern have many of both type and are looking to replace the 156s, hence why it'd be logical to send them to Northern, even if all 27 go to the North East. I suggested keeping some for Cumbria services because they're an ideal regional express unit which fits the Cumbria route criteria.
Not getting rid of many of the 15x is it. It seems you’re only in this thread to regurgitate your obsession of reuse for the 175’s with Northern. Not of how to get rid of the 15x fleet which is the threads intention.
Also may well be the case that Northern wouldn't be able to afford the leasing costs of 185s combined with the running costs - because of the weight and the amount of fuel they use.
Fuel and weight do cost I agree, but what about maintenance costs compared to 30-40 year old units.
Also by taking on 51 x 185’s as part of 15x replacement you’re saving money on 51 new builds.
Unless of course you have access to Northern’s accounts and can tell us otherwise.