tbtc
Veteran Member
These days it's not uncommon for an order for new trains to be announced as something like "one hundred new Class XYZs with an option for a further twenty five" - given the problems with 185s/ Voyagers etc (which the railway ordered insufficient of, but the production line closed and it would have been disruptively expensive to order a small amount of additional ones)
Generally there's a shortish window to order the additional stock in, which makes sense - can't keep the production line/ jigs on hold long term - also a fixed price (since you don't want to be stung by fluctuations)
Sometimes it's taken for granted that at least some of the "option" will be taken up - e.g. we have threads on here about potential uses for additional 777s (since Merseyrail could have a further sixty over and above the ones committed to)
The thread about LNER seeking tenders for additional stock (https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/new-or-existing-uk-fleet-only-10-trains-possibly-caf.219370/) states the following:
...so are there any other examples of options that were agreed with the manufacturer but not subsequently taken up?
For the avoidance of doubt, I'm not talking about any old stock where "it'd have been nice to have had a few more"; I'm talking specifically about stock where the contract committed the manufacturer to providing a number of additional trains if the TOC/ ROSCO/ BR demanded them
Generally there's a shortish window to order the additional stock in, which makes sense - can't keep the production line/ jigs on hold long term - also a fixed price (since you don't want to be stung by fluctuations)
Sometimes it's taken for granted that at least some of the "option" will be taken up - e.g. we have threads on here about potential uses for additional 777s (since Merseyrail could have a further sixty over and above the ones committed to)
The thread about LNER seeking tenders for additional stock (https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/new-or-existing-uk-fleet-only-10-trains-possibly-caf.219370/) states the following:
CAF also had an option with TPE to supply more 125mph EMUs (5-7-car class 397s) should they need them
TPE's option on extra 397s has expired
...so are there any other examples of options that were agreed with the manufacturer but not subsequently taken up?
For the avoidance of doubt, I'm not talking about any old stock where "it'd have been nice to have had a few more"; I'm talking specifically about stock where the contract committed the manufacturer to providing a number of additional trains if the TOC/ ROSCO/ BR demanded them