I've not read it
Neither have I, but on a quick look through it didn't seem to be proposing details of cascades; so what is the point of it?
In particular, I was hopeing to find a strategy for ensuring there are enough diesel trains compliant with TSI-
PRM▸ regulations for the 2020 deadline. At present, I believe Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern,
EMT» and London Midland have between them 107 non-compliant
DMUs▸ (173 vehicles of classes 121, 142, 143, 150 and 153). Chiltern's class 121s are apparently to be retired in May, with the existing fleet stretched to cover the diagram; so the actual totals are 105 units / 171 vehicles. As far as I can make out, only 39 DMUs which are (or likely to be) compliant are due to be available by 2020 (everything else coming off-lease, except Pacers and 153s, is either electric, already due for cascade to Northern or are not fully released before 2020 (the first 185 might be released from
TPE▸ in November 2019, but the full 22 won't be available until March 2020)). Those 39 available units comprise 91 vehicles (of classes 156, 170 and 172). Obviously, the numbers don't add up, so somebody is going to have to use one or more untried solutions (class 230s, 319 Flexes or PRM-modified class 153s). Who is going to get the units and who will be left with untried solutions, and which of the untried solutions will be implemented? If a decision isn't made soon, what happens if the
DfT» refuse to grant a derrogation to the regulations because of indecision leading to
TOCs▸ missing the PRM deadline?