F Great Eastern
Established Member
Reports from multiple sources suggesting that Ireland's National Transport Authority (NTA) approached the ROSCOS in the UK about hiring some rolling stock to add extra capacity as it's likely that any new build trains will not be in service until 2023/2024 and there is a pressing demand for additional rolling stock as many services are overcrowded and because of serious issues with Alstom EMU and DMU stock built around the year 2000, almost 40 carriages are not going to operate any further services because it would represent poor value for money for units which made the 175/180 fleets look reliable.
Whilst 10 DART carriages with serious issues that could be repaired but were very expensive to do so, were recently repaired having not turned a wheel in years and 2x7 car MK4 sets were returned to service having been stored for a while, Everything is now in service aside from the Alstom stock and services are still very busy with overcrowding almost certain to become worse over 2019 where passenger growth is expected to increase.
Porterbrook have apparently said they can offer the following:
- 8x 3 car Class 170
- 4x 2 car Class 170
- Unspecified number of Pacers
Eversholt apparently can offer:
- 22x 3 car Class 185
Angel Trains reportedly have offered:
- Unspecified number of Pacers
- Unspecified number of Class 15x vehicles.
According to several Irish forums, the Class 170 and Class 185 are the favourites for the job, with the pacers not being considered. It has already been assured by the ROSCOS that regauging the trains will not be a problem and something that they can arrange.
With the PRM deadline coming, this could cause additional issues with lack of rolling stock, with Greater Anglia in particular seemingly in a difficult position. The NTA is apparently willing to sign longer term deals than UK TOCs would offer so this is meant to be attractive to the ROSCOS who don't want their assets sitting idle in 2020/2021.
Whilst 10 DART carriages with serious issues that could be repaired but were very expensive to do so, were recently repaired having not turned a wheel in years and 2x7 car MK4 sets were returned to service having been stored for a while, Everything is now in service aside from the Alstom stock and services are still very busy with overcrowding almost certain to become worse over 2019 where passenger growth is expected to increase.
Porterbrook have apparently said they can offer the following:
- 8x 3 car Class 170
- 4x 2 car Class 170
- Unspecified number of Pacers
Eversholt apparently can offer:
- 22x 3 car Class 185
Angel Trains reportedly have offered:
- Unspecified number of Pacers
- Unspecified number of Class 15x vehicles.
According to several Irish forums, the Class 170 and Class 185 are the favourites for the job, with the pacers not being considered. It has already been assured by the ROSCOS that regauging the trains will not be a problem and something that they can arrange.
With the PRM deadline coming, this could cause additional issues with lack of rolling stock, with Greater Anglia in particular seemingly in a difficult position. The NTA is apparently willing to sign longer term deals than UK TOCs would offer so this is meant to be attractive to the ROSCOS who don't want their assets sitting idle in 2020/2021.
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