With respect, Will, the ORR» application to move WSMR▸ under Chiltern does include the ability to run 168s as alternative stock to their loco & coaches. Although as WSMR are proud of their use of the latter, I'm not sure the intention is to use many 168s.....
With respect Chris and II, I know they are asking for consent to use 168s but they have been adamant that they will continue to offer first class and restaurant service, which would be rather hard with a 168 - indeed they are now asking if standard class passengers would be interested in booking an at-seat meal in advance, formalising the slightly ad hoc arrangements that they operate at present, see
http://www.wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk/catering-form.php - and the current issue of Modern Railways says the following "the company insists the use of 168s would not be a regular occurrence as they do not have first class accommodation".
Willc, the differentials between loco + coaches and 168s has been diminished since recent upgrades, and will be eliminated within a year. For most of the route it will be 100 mph for all.
I was under the impression that direct Stratford trains were being reduced, that's why I said most 165s will stop at HW. Oxford and B'ham trains will be 168/loco, what else will be 165 north of HW?
The differentials are not about what the maximum line speed is - a Class 67's acceleration is different to lightweight
DMUs▸ , as is its braking, and as I said last night, if there are places where there are concerns about the impact of locos on track or embankments - a particular issue much of the way from Princes Risborough to Aynho, hence the recent extensive work south of Bicester and the huge bills for redoubling a few years back - then again locos have to run at lower speeds.
Do you read other people's posts? I only ask because I said last night many services which turn back at Bicester and Banbury - or start at Banbury in the morning and end there in the evening - are 165s. If anyone wants a clearer picture of what units work which Chiltern services, then go to the following link on the December timetable that was put out for consulation, open up the pdfs and look at the top of the column for each train, where the type of unit allocated is printed
http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/news/news-archive/ttconsult-dmr09/The whole point of the Cambrian upgrade is to allow for an hourly service
Er, no. Yes, the Cambrian line upgrade will allow an hourly service - as yet unfunded by the Welsh Assembly government, which so far only aspires to start it by 2011 - but you could say the same thing about the Cotswold Line redoubling.
Just as the Cotswold scheme offers benefits above and beyond simply allowing an hourly service, so does the Cambrian upgrade, with major work at Dovey junction to raise the tracks to reduce the threat of closures due to flooding, along with reinstatement of the loop there, extending the Welshpool loop, level crossing improvements and replacement of the life-expired radio signalling with
ERTMS▸ - all helping provide a more robust, reliable, punctual service, whatever the frequency, just like the Cotswold scheme.
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