So what do reckon £20m splurged on retractioning them plus some had been refurbished as well. Then they are going to spend another £5-10m on sorting out 458's.
Presumably all sanctioned by Dept of Transport.
Sometimes need to stand back, and take stock.
Yes there is a sunk cost (what you have already spent), but it is likely the costs to finish the project make no sense in current climate.
It not just the railways, British Airways were refitting some cabins on its 747s weeks before deciding that no longer any need and bringing withdrawal forward is only sensible economic outcome.
Like those 747s easily to strip out the seats from the 442s and reuse them in something else. I suspect those new traction packages can be reused by someone (even if they end up being sold to a railway operator in another country)
So it’s highly likely some of the money spent on new equipment can be recovered, and not continuing to spend more saves all the training (and let’s be honest, the 701 programme needs as much training time as it can get).
Commercial Reality and nostalgia don’t mix well.
I grew up in New Milton, and my parents were still there after I moved to London in 1988, so I have used them many times. I remember seeing my first one, 2401 in NSE silver and white which stopped at New Milton on a test run (with double guards van, and composite vehicle). But that was 33 or 34 years ago.
Yes they looked sleek when I first saw them, the covers over the end cables were down, and paintwork was gleaming on that first unit. (the REPs and TCs paint was bit tired by 1987) But that doesn’t mean 30+ years later they should still be patched up.
As for the 458s, when they were introduced I was living in Richmond so commuted on them, and they weren’t that reliable in early days. But I will miss the comfort of the 442s.
Finally should the 442 reuse project ever have started, with hindsight no, and whichever bean counter allowed them in SWR bid without understanding their condition, corrosion and required cost just got it wrong.