31x and 32x multiple working

[Bikeman78]

I don't entirely understand what the point of this discussion is: certainly, a 318 may have been operated coupled to a 320 before 2011 or 2010 - on one off occasions (although I've not actually seen evidence thereof - but that's not sufficient to prove anything), but the overarching point is that they were not mixed in regular service until the 320s had been upgraded to match the 318's capabilities. Which is a fairly clear indication that Scotrail were indeed operating them as separate fleets as far as possible prior to 2011, with schedules that kept the two separate. (Which presumably didn't stop them from joining 2 units on a given day if schedules are disrupted - but they certainly weren't planning to do so.)

Until 2002 all the 318s worked to Ayr/Largs/Ardrossan and the 320s worked the North Clyde so they never met anyway. I doubt many drivers signed both classes either. When the 334s arrived, around two thirds of the 318 diagrams switched to the Argyle line and North Clyde to replace the 303s. At which point all the drivers would have been trained on 318s. But I don't think Glasgow/Corkerhill/Motherwell drivers signed 320s so that is probably the reason why they didn't mix. As you say, they could theoretically have worked together on the North Clyde where the speed never exceeds 75 anyway.

 

[hexagon789]

You are right, I completely agree. I don't understand why though. Trains on the Argyle line or North Clyde routes rarely get to 75 mph let alone above it.

Neither do I, though at least they now take advantage of this flexibility.

That's definitely true on the Lanark line. They only run at 90 for two or three mins max. Bear in mind that 303s and 314s used to run to Lanark and the schedules were actually slightly faster in 2000 than in 2010.

More impressive given those classes fairly weak performance at above 45-50mph