'Fears grow for future of rail expansion' - from the Guardian, 10 May 2009

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

Im sure its been explained before.. but when the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) sets are ordered for the Great Western route, will there be suffucient to replace every single HST^▸ (High Speed Train)... or will it only be to replace the HSTs whihch First rent, not incluyding the ones they purchased?

I think it is in another thread,but couldn't find it easily, so I'll repeat the numbers from the ITT^▸ (Invitation to Tender), page15 refers:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/iep/iepinvitationtotender/iepinvitationtotender.pdf

The tender calls for a number of daily diagrams, so you'd expect at least 10% more physical trains, and of course there are full length and half length trains, helpfully they list 'full length equivalents'.

GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) Phase 1
Self power 24 Full
Bi-mode 38 Half (19 Full equivalent)

GWML Phase 2
Self power 15 Full
Bi-mode 3 Half (1.5 Full equivalent)

So that is 80 (59.5 full equivalent) daily diagrams, so probably equates to about 88 (66 full equivalent) trains, which compares favourably with the number of HSTs, I think.

Paul

[devon_metro]

Quite frankly, the system is way too complicated.

Whats wrong with building locos/powercars and sticking whatever formation of coaches you require in between???

[Btline]

And why is GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) getting bi-mods?

Great, even slower journey times....

[paul7575]

And why is GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) getting bi-mods?

Great, even slower journey times....

At the risk of stating the obvious, even if there is wiring to Reading, Bristol or even Cardiff by then, they'll still need diesel to get further away, to places like Oxford, Worcester, Newbury, Exeter, Swansea etc, AFAICS^▸ (As Far As I Can See). 

However, all the indications are that a bi-mode half set will not have a problem with speed, as its single diesel power car is only towing 4 coaches. It's the full length bi-mode that is expected to be underpowered off the wires, according to some recent articles.

Paul

[Btline]

But the wires won't be up! We'll be lucky if they are up as far as Reading. And I think running a full diesel is better than having to switch power supply at Reading.

If the wires do go up, they should go up all the way. So in that case, only the electric version would be needed (with Thunderbirds for diversions and loco changes for occasional extensions)