A distinct advantage of the modular Hitachi design with the easily demountable generator rafts. There would be separate fuel tanks to remove as well if they're not integral to the power raft, but I'm assuming that should also be fairly straightforward as they must be simply slung under the bodyshells. Many whole life savings and other benefits could then accrue from lighter, better performing trains, although they might want to fit moderately sized battery packs in place of the engines to retain some off wire capability, once the vast majority of the route was electrified. Even before removing engines was viable, the operator could take advantage of more wiring to conserve off wire range of the units and reduce engine hours, hence increasing fueling and servicing intervals, and to tackle the overheating related reliability issues arising from prolonged diesel running at very high power output.
Indeed the same for GWML where the original concept was a core fleet for the primary high speed trunk that were all electric, with bi-modes for the less frequent slower branches. Requiring every single train to have and use diesels for fairly long proportions of their daily diagrams has its costs and dis-benefits. Can be very useful strategy to allow progressive further electrification without the fleet replacement pressure though! That became a costly necessity on GWML clearly.
Which would all pale into insignificance if plans for electric cars and HGVs come to fruition.
Only Southern region and LT
Indeed, very impressive!
Unfortunately, I know very little about the programme as well - most of my observations are based on scouring Flickr to glory for any signs of change. I'll see what I can manage in September, after the next major blockade.
No plans for a second platform that I'm aware of, and by the look of those twin-track cantilevers they would block it anyway. With all trains terminating bar a handful there's no need. I think the short ex-GC HSTs such as this one regularly run to Corby but someone else will have more details on that.
and with a failure/blockage in the existing platform,then what happens?
Shouldn’t be that much of a problem re the TTCs, all they’d need is some anti-climbing guards affixed.
