tbtc
Veteran Member
Northern recently introduced new trains into passenger service - Arriva were awarded the franchise in 2015.
The TPE franchise was also awarded in 2015 and are almost just about to nearly introduce their new trains.
These things can take time - tenders, contracts, appeals, designs, trials, acceptance testing, staff training etc.
But what has been the shortest time between a franchise being awarded and the new trains coming into passenger service?
To avoid arguments, I'm talking about trains ordered by the new TOC, so not trains that were already in the pipeline due to the Government specifying them or the previous franchise specifying them - e.g. the SWR 707s that were already ordered by SWT - any trains ordered since privatisation are valid for this.
The TPE franchise was also awarded in 2015 and are almost just about to nearly introduce their new trains.
These things can take time - tenders, contracts, appeals, designs, trials, acceptance testing, staff training etc.
But what has been the shortest time between a franchise being awarded and the new trains coming into passenger service?
To avoid arguments, I'm talking about trains ordered by the new TOC, so not trains that were already in the pipeline due to the Government specifying them or the previous franchise specifying them - e.g. the SWR 707s that were already ordered by SWT - any trains ordered since privatisation are valid for this.