There's a story in the Cambridge News (no need for a link- there's nothing new in it!) again about the possibility of the fast Peterborough/Cambridge/Kings Lynn services eventually being operated by 5-car IEP trains, as mentioned in the DfT press release last week.
There's some bits I've been wondering about though:
Length- a two unit formation will be 20m longer than a 12-car 365 formation. Platforms 1, 7 and 8 at Cambridge don't appear to have 20m of extra length available, though 7 and 8 could be extended easily- 1 can't! 4 is currently only 10-car (for 20m stock) but could possibly be extended- I'm not sure how far. So, um, that'll cause a problem?
Capacity- anyone know of any indicative seating capacity for 5-car "commuter" IEP trains? 12 car peak services from Cambridge have people standing. 8-car off-peak services, especially at weekends, can be rammed. Would there be a redction in seating capaciy, and would most off-peak services have to be double units to avoid the overcrowding that would be almost certain on a single unit- with the restrictions on what platforms they can then use as result?
There's some bits I've been wondering about though:
Length- a two unit formation will be 20m longer than a 12-car 365 formation. Platforms 1, 7 and 8 at Cambridge don't appear to have 20m of extra length available, though 7 and 8 could be extended easily- 1 can't! 4 is currently only 10-car (for 20m stock) but could possibly be extended- I'm not sure how far. So, um, that'll cause a problem?
Capacity- anyone know of any indicative seating capacity for 5-car "commuter" IEP trains? 12 car peak services from Cambridge have people standing. 8-car off-peak services, especially at weekends, can be rammed. Would there be a redction in seating capaciy, and would most off-peak services have to be double units to avoid the overcrowding that would be almost certain on a single unit- with the restrictions on what platforms they can then use as result?