As an aside was there a reason they were ordered over the Turbostars of the era? I'd guess delivery timetable or the fact they were the same order as Worst Groups 180s?
They were indeed ordered by First Group at the same time as the 180s - in fact, some 180s were due to go to FNW until their plans for NW-London were abandoned.
For a time at the start of privatisation, Alstom were in pole position for new orders (Junipers, Coradias and Pendolinos).
Adtranz were having great difficulty with getting Electrostars approved, while the Alstom traction package sailed through (comparatively).
But then they became over confident and produced badly-integrated rubbish out of Washwood Heath, so the Roscos switched to Desiros and then Electrostars.
The decisive moment was when Stagecoach went with Siemens 450s for SWT instead of Alstom Junipers.
Even Pendolinos were initially very troublesome, but there was no serious alternative for tilting trains at that point.
175s have always been maintained directly by Alstom at Chester, and eventually achieved some level of reliability for ATW.
CAF seems to have become the not-go-to manufacturer now, with poor build quality and delayed acceptance for Civitys at TPE/Northern.
Meanwhile Bombardier are in the dock again with Aventras.
Who'd be a train manufacturer for the UK market...
