theshillito
Member
What ever happened to Alliance Rail getting some Pendolinos? I know they gave up on getting them, but are there some knocking about somewhere, or would they have been freshly built?
They would have been newly built units, the existing Pendolino fleet is fully utilised on franchised West Coast duties. That plan has been superseded by the use of shortened mark 4 rakes released from the East Coast main line with either class 90 or 91 locos, potentially from Spring next year.What ever happened to Alliance Rail getting some Pendolinos? I know they gave up on getting them, but are there some knocking about somewhere, or would they have been freshly built?
Thank you. That rules out Virgin doing that. I'm assuming they won't want to build some new trains for this little project.They would have been newly built units, the existing Pendolino fleet is fully utilised on franchised West Coast duties. That plan has been superseded by the use of shortened mark 4 rakes released from the East Coast main line with either class 90 or 91 locos, potentially from Spring next year.
As an aside, don’t they normally redact that sort of thing - I doubt many people want to see their signature online...What's even more interesting about this is the person whose signature is in that document....
I'm sure someone's posted here that some Virgin bods were apparently looking intently at CAF's 397s for Transpennine.
I thought it was said somewhere virgin would be looking to take 91s and mark 4 for the Liverpool service?
It won't be 221s, the environmental lobby will shut it down.
Slightly ironic for Virgin considering a significant number of their own WCML ads have been about them being a greener way to travel!Best tell Virgin Trains that as they seem to think it will be!
Why, when any alternative is likley to involve running them for many more years under the wires of the ECML & GWML anyway.?I actually think this should be rejected on environmental grounds, with them forced to procure some EMUs.
Why, when any alternative is likley to involve running them for many more years under the wires of the ECML & GWML anyway.?
Yes, unless there’s a serious plan for them to go elsewhere.On XC, you mean? .
Yes, unless there’s a serious plan for them to go elsewhere.
As it’s now suggested HS2 won’t finally open until 2030, I think it’s a bit premature to be rushing into replacing a sizeable number of currently 125 mph WCML trains with stock limited only to 110 mph
I actually think this should be rejected on environmental grounds, with them forced to procure some EMUs.
Couldn't they have bid class 350/2s and refit them in 2+2?
Decision criteria is a bit woolly to be fair, what one person thinks could be quite different to another.Network Code Part D (Clause 4.6.2) does state that Network Rail are required to consider Environmental factors when making Decisions on Track Access.
I guess more commonly that will relate to noise and vibration issues (e.g. diesel engines idling in loops near houses).
It would be pretty radical for NR or the ORR to attempt to reject the paths on emissions grounds. The VT counter argument is likely to be "well, it's probably better than every passenger travelling by car".
It would be a brave politician who allowed a new long distance diesel service entirely under the wires rather than Avanti WC running full electrics.....
Avanti's TAA is online as well. The only point worth mentioning from that is possibly that they reckon NR will be raising some speeds to 125 mph...Presumably this is Virgin trying to get their application in before Avanti have theirs in and be first in the queue?
If Avanti don't get the paths it will be very expensive for DfT.
Network Code Part D (Clause 4.6.2) does state that Network Rail are required to consider Environmental factors when making Decisions on Track Access.
I guess more commonly that will relate to noise and vibration issues (e.g. diesel engines idling in loops near houses).
It would be pretty radical for NR or the ORR to attempt to reject the paths on emissions grounds. The VT counter argument is likely to be "well, it's probably better than every passenger travelling by car".
I know it's probably not in the ORRs's remit with this, but would it not be for the greater good if the rolling stock shortage at XC were taken into account? I.e. for the greater good? As the Voyagers being snapped up elsewhere could have a detrimental effect on a potential lengthening of trains on the franchised XC north to south operation?
The ex Virgin Trains Voyagers are the intended stock for the er... Virgin Trains open access hourly Liverpool service, there’s a track access application appeared:
https://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pd...s-limited-daft-track-access-contract-form.pdf
Thats one of the reasons why i think ORR will favour virgin.VT/Avanti in direct competition would be very good for the consumer, though.
Thats one of the reasons why i think ORR will favour virgin.
Isnt the point of open access operators to create competition in the existing market?