co-tr-paul
Member
Today, 24/6/16, and info received from Fleet Engineering Manager in person.
With the well known IEP delays, the number of 165/166 units retained at Reading depot will increase.
The rest for Bristol as planned for Cardiff-Portsmouth.
This means not all 158s will head west so it looks increasingly likely that the 2+4 HST plan will be signed off by the DfT in July. These will be used for the Bristol to Penzance corridor and will have sliding doors and CET fitted and should carry green livery.
The coach ends will effectively be chopped off and a new design modular door area will be fitted hence cost saving on measuring each coach on an individual basis.
These will be used in conjunction with the AT300s to form the planned Dec 2018 timetable upgrade.
They should remain in service until at least the end of the franchise.
With the well known IEP delays, the number of 165/166 units retained at Reading depot will increase.
The rest for Bristol as planned for Cardiff-Portsmouth.
This means not all 158s will head west so it looks increasingly likely that the 2+4 HST plan will be signed off by the DfT in July. These will be used for the Bristol to Penzance corridor and will have sliding doors and CET fitted and should carry green livery.
The coach ends will effectively be chopped off and a new design modular door area will be fitted hence cost saving on measuring each coach on an individual basis.
These will be used in conjunction with the AT300s to form the planned Dec 2018 timetable upgrade.
They should remain in service until at least the end of the franchise.