Confirmation in today's FT apparently that DfT will sign for the 600 vehicles by the end of the month. Quite a downsizing from the original c.1640
They split the Great Western and East Coast orders in too, first batch is just for Great Western. You can probably add another 10% too as the Governments only buying services while the manufacturer would have to keep spares for failure and maintenence rotations.
That probably explains the 'tight' diagramming we have been discussing, eg just 8 8car EMUs.
Heres a thought - what if Agility Trains conclude it would be cheaper and easier for them to deliver the program by electrifying the last few outposts and procuring spot hire locos for diversions, rather than continue with Bi Mode?
Now that would be embarrassing for the DfT!
Confirmation in today's FT apparently that DfT will sign for the 600 vehicles by the end of the month. Quite a downsizing from the original c.1640
Of course the date for financial close keeps slipping further and further, there's also then the fact the the Great Western franchise leaves open the possibility of using trains other than IEP, inviting bidders that they may suggest other options, which wouldn't work if the DfT had already signed the contract for IEP.
So what if IEP is allocated to the Great Western franchise but the successful bidder decides not to accept it but rather use the non tilt Class 390s instead as a example?
So has the pendolino based alternative defiantly been shelved then? What became of the clearance trails?
So what if IEP is allocated to the Great Western franchise but the successful bidder decides not to accept it but rather use the non tilt Class 390s instead as a example?
According to information posted on Wnxx we may hear something about IEP tommorow around midday
Thats Ominous - Government announce something, on a bank holiday, when the media's eye is on the Jubilee?!
And it doesn't look good either - the poster on WNXX jokingly asked us all to yell in the direction of Parliament 'FARCE!' - seems to indicate that the project is going ahead. :-x What the hell is wrong with Norman Baker, complete and utter incompetent idiot in my eyes.According to information posted on Wnxx we may hear something about IEP tommorow around midday
Thats Ominous - Government announce something, on a bank holiday, when the media's eye is on the Jubilee?!
You have to remember as well that the carriages will be 26m compared to 23m carriages on the mk3's
I'd rather not remember that! Along with bi-mode this 26m business is ridiculous. What on earth is wrong with 23m, you know, that length that is pretty much go anywhere?
Because the program is to gradually make 26m the go anywhere length on the main routes while the secondary routes would be 23m capable.
According to information posted on Wnxx we may hear something about IEP tommorow around midday
As with Nym, what's the point? We already have a go anywhere length so why do we need another one?