CR2 isn't dead, just not much development work cash and politician have other priorities.
Yeah but they could add another carriage to form a 6/12 car formation.
Here it is
Train operators are poised to net millions more from Britain’s most profitable lines after ministers hit the pause button on a string of rail tenders.
Decisions on the new operators of the Southeastern, West Coast and East Midlands franchises are due in the coming months.
But The Sunday Telegraph understands that long-term decisions on the train network have now been put on ice until a sweeping rail review by transport grandee Keith Williams is concluded.
City analysts expect delays of up to a year, something that would hand around £2.5bn in fares and £110m in profit to incumbent operators, according to rail regulator figures.
Mr Williams, the former British Airways chief executive, is due to report in the autumn, giving him until December to finalise his findings.
Chris Grayling, transport secretary CREDIT: DANNY LAWSON/PA
The rail industry has largely discounted a new Southeastern operator being in place by June 22. Incumbent Govia is expected to be handed a fresh short-term extension after ministers have already delayed a decision by six months. An announcement on East Midlands, run by Stagecoach, is timetabled for April with a changeover scheduled for August.
On West Coast, a joint venture between Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin and Stagecoach, an announcement is due to made between May and September. The trio rank among the biggest dividend payers, handing out around £350m over the last five years.
Sources said that Chris Grayling’s department had been caught off guard by recent comments by Mr Williams, who said “franchising cannot continue the way it is today”.
The cost stuff keeps being suggested by posters in forums, but the real reason is that the DfT determined that the 707s in their as built condition did not meet the required standing capacity or dwell times for the Wessex inner suburban routes through Clapham Junction. This is all detailed in the franchise ITT, and has been explained a few times in earlier threads, including the main 707 thread.
A combination of both, not making the performance criteria on dwell times, standing capacity acceleration and they were comparatively expensive as final nail in the coffin, easier to get a uniform fleet of new trains with matching performance, the large order also helps with the cost.
Think of number (the plan), then multiply it by another one to get to reality!!!
The line speeds on SE metro routes don't require anything that can go over 75mph. It's only really between Orpington and Sevenoaks that line speed is higher than 75mph on metro routes. Also Bickley junction to Swanley on the off chance they were to run down there. Acceleration is the key factor, rather than maximum permitted speed.
But does a 707 accelerate faster than a 376, which is probably more important on the suburban services they probably would operate?
Stick a pan on the roof and send them up north to replace the 319s
Stick a pan on the roof and send them up north to replace the 319s
Brixton:
Insulated Block Joints i.e. the very end of the track circuit
