Class 158/170 on glasgow southwest services

[BDLhouston]

Currently only class 156s operate from glasgow to stranraer kilmarnock and carlisle, however eventually they will be retired since they're approaching 40 years old, but when they do, what will take over around non electrified Ayrshire and Dumfries services? I know 158s don't have clearance for stranraer services, so what about 170s? They're newer than both the class 158 and 156, and can easily decrease travel times on the line, so is the class 170 a good replacement for 156s south of glasgow?

 

[JonathanH]

They're newer than both the class 158 and 156, and can easily decrease travel times on the line

How are 170s going to 'easily decrease' travel times on the route? The Sectional Appendix indicates that most of the route has a speed limit of 70mph, with a small amount of 80mph through Gretna and Annan.

I know 158s don't have clearance for stranraer services, so what about 170s?

Neither 158s or 170s have clearance for Stranraer services. If they need to be cleared, the work will be done.

 

[hexagon789]

158s were planned for the G&SW originally.

If they can be route cleared the higher power would certainly help on gradients if nothing was done to the speed restrictions, though being able to do 90 Gretna Jcn-Carlisle might make up the odd minute of late running.

If Stranraer survives I expect some form of Hydrogen train might run a shuttle from Girvan which could probably manage to justify OLE and an hourly service.

The GSW to Carlisle could perhaps justify electrification south of Kilmarnock as a useful diversionary route to the WCML and for freight. Then perhaps Glasgow-Kilmarnock-Dunfries-Carlisle could be bumped to hourly.

For even more expenditure linespeed could be pushed to at least 90 (as was planned in the 1980s) if not 100.

This is all pure speculation of course.