TheSlash
Established Member
Recognised fame, knowledge and skill :glasses7:Send the Slash in to fix it!!
Recognised fame, knowledge and skill :glasses7:Send the Slash in to fix it!!
Considering the data in the thread about Pendo power consumption (http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=9782) and with the ever increased cost of electricity, it seems a little odd that SWT should want rid of these units (unless it's part of the franchise commitment). Surely they will find use elsewhere - Brighton seems the obvious choice to me.
Apparently the main fast services to Portsmouth Harbour will retain 444s.That's what I'm getting at, the 444s which are currently common on the fast Portsmouth Harbour services are 2+2 seated, wheras the 450s which it sounds like they are going to be replaced with on that service are 3+2 seated. As far as the 444s replacing 442s, it's the same, better or worse, depending on your point of view, but few can argue that replacing 444s with 450s is anything but a reduction in quality. It will also be interesting to see what happens in terms of train length, are the 450s mostly going to be run a 4 coaches, which although giving slightly more seats, is at the expence of packing the in a lot tighter, aswell as reductions in onboard facilities (no buffet) and luggage space (Portsmouth, with it's connections the the Isle of Wight and the continent must get a lot of holiday traffic). On the other hand, running as 8 coaches is likely to be overkill most of the time, and also depends on enough 450s being freed up. Then of cource, is the issue of busy times, when 444s run as 10 coach sets, will the 450s be run as 12 coaches, although again an 8 coach 450 will provide more seating than a 10 coach 444.
Oh right - my mistake :error:They're not "moving" to Wimbledon, they're going to be maintained there but stabled in Bournemouth
Alton will be all 458
73201 took them today to Wimbledon for some sort of unit testing.Were 1497 and 3417 moved to Wimbledon already (today)? Dad saw them shoot off up passed his work this afternoon with 73235 IIRC.
Because they are the most expsnive train to run, and there reiabliy has gone down hill in recent years, you can't expect 40 year old traction equipment to go on for ever.
What was doing the branch then? A 450?!
My mistake. It's RBS who owns Angel, i thought it was HSBC.Angel own the trains... but HSBC own the depot.