It was DfT that talked about splitting the EMT Norwich - Liverpool service and I'm sure it was mentioned Nova 3 could be utilised in the future.
I think that would be entirely dependent on Transpennine North electrification, and the proposed follow-on order of class 397s allowing mark 5 rakes to be cascaded, which in itself would still be no certain thing.
Without that, there's no way that substituting class 185s for brand new mark 5 rakes that had barely been introduced to their planned Scarborough/Middlesbrough routes so that they could operate Liverpool - Nottingham would be seen as palatable.
If Liverpool - Nottingham were to go to TPE, I assume it would be based on TPE retaining additional 185s to operate it.
Agree all round. At some point in the next year lots of high quality loco hauled stock will be kicking around with nothing to do, 68 plus Mk4 on the routes you mentioned as an interim?
There are barely 15 class 68s going spare once the Chiltern and Transpennine contingents are taken into account, and I assume that DRS have work for at least some of them (Including the Scotrail contract in the short term), while there's 22 class 185s that Eversholt seem desperate to find work for, and are currently employed by TPE. I presume that the latter would take precedence.
Remember the mainly Class 31 hauled 4 coach Liverpool - Norwich services. Better than any Class 158 and EMT ones are probably some of the best.
Despite my love of all things loco-hauled, I'm inclined to disagree: The impression I've gained of the scratch rakes that BR formed to operate the likes of Norwich and Cleethorpes services in the early eighties is that they were the most bottom of the barrel stock that BR could scrape up, with low powered locomotives and the grottiest, most worn out coaching stock. EMT's class 158s are cleaner, faster accelerating and offer more seats, which is the most important factor.
Though admittedly, they lack the soul of a temperamental and well worn loco hauled train!