Adelantes For National Express?

[whole diary]

[r james]

I still think there is an issue, in that ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) will require some 180s or similar if they obtain the running of the new Cardiff to Holyhead express services. 

Then again, taking say 4 to ATW would still leave sufficient for Hull Trains and First TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) surely?

[welshman]

I don't think ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) can make effective use of the 180s.  They already have the junior versions in the form of the 175s and even those are "too fast" for most of the Newport-Crewe section which is all 90 mph maximum or less.

[Btline]

Let's build some more and give some to al TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company)!

[stebbo]

Can't understand why somebody like Chiltern or Wrexham & Shropshire don't go after the Adelantes - properly maintained they'd go well between Wrexham/Kiddie & Snow Hill/Marylebone.

[Lee]

Plans detailed this week include 25 new direct services to and from London, creating at least 7,000 extra seats a day on the East Coast route from December 2009. Among these are new routes, such as a two hourly service to and from Lincoln, additionally serving Market Rasen, Grimsby and Cleethorpes once a day, a two hourly service between London and Garforth, Leeds, Horsforth, Pannal and Harrogate, an extra service every hour direct from London to Bradford Forster Square by extending some Leeds services, and possible extra services to Skipton and the Aire Valley, subject to electricity supply issues being resolved by Network Rail (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5049

Some of the plans, such at the Lincoln service, were included in the franchise agreement with the government signed last year. However, other proposals to serve new destinations in the north east appear designed to spoil plans by open access train operator Grand Central, which recently announced its intention to bid for paths to Grimsby, Scarborough and Huddersfield.

To run its proposed additional services, the company would lease Class 180 Adelante diesel trains, capable of 125mph running, in addition to its existing fleets of refurbished diesel and electric trains.

The company has formally submitted an application to the Office of Rail Regulation to run 25 new services to and from London from December 2009. However, the new services are subject to regulatory approval and face competition from open access operators Grand Central and Hull Trains for the limited available track capacity from Yorkshire southwards.

[G.Uard]

Hull Trains were recently crew training on a 180 set.  I believe that they now have 2 of these and plan to have 5 in service by Christmas 08

[Electric train]

I can imagine NEX^▸ (National Express - parent company of Wessex Trains) would like them for their proposed new through service to Lincoln