Guildford to Ash (or Shalford Jct to Ash for services towards Reading) is on DC power.I wouldn't be in too much of a rush to get them introduced - they're older than the 165s they're replacing, and evidence from Northern and TfW doesn't bode well for their reliability.
Environmentally the benefits aren't that great - they're likely to turn the diesels off only between Reading and Wokingham, and between Reigate and Redhill or Gatwick. (Ash to Guildford is possible but uncertain afaik).
It's to do with the 3 minute turnaround at Windsor and the fact that changing ends on a 4-car can't be done within the same timing allowance as for 2 or 3 cars. So it would either need the timetable to be re-written (possible in future I guess as the Windsors are 'locked in') or for trains to be double manned with a driver at each end. Plus, as has been mentioned up-thread, some of the Windsors are worked by Padd drivers, and the intention is to train Reading drivers initially. Not that that means Padd drivers won't be trained on 769s eventually.Does anyone know what makes Twyford-Henley preferable to Slough-Windsor ? Seems a bit arbitrary.
Last edited: