Hmmm - if the trial was a success you would think there would be some comms.
Introduction of 175s should directly or indirectly free up a few IETs to do what they were actually designed for instead of trundling around on stoppers.
There may well be communication between GWR and DfT on the matter but it isn’t necessarily for the public domain. GWR have already stated their ambition for a regular 6d/week service between Bristol and Oxford, as have stakeholders along the route (particularly at the Oxford end) so I imagine it’s quite high up the priority list. This suggests there is already a business case for operating it once stock becomes available, whether released by Class 175 deployment or otherwise.
I was going to say, looks like the stock is used for the Pembroke Dock extensions in high summer, which I’d guess was probably a commitment.
