TransPennine Express

[knutstransport]

RE: TransPennine Express

(23/07/2017 22:53)markydh Wrote:  The plan was to order 125mph capable EMUs when Transpennine electrification was complete. Only then would bi-modes replace the mark 5s on non-Newcastle services. They have only been ordered as Hitachi don't have the capacity to build enough bi-modes to meet the terms of the franchise award. They're not seen as anything other than a stop gap.

The mk5s were ordered because they could be delivered quicker. Hitachi won't deliver any bi-modes to TPE until 2019, the mk5s should be in service next May. If First had ordered more bi-modes it would probably have taken Hitachi until 2020 to deliver them all, so the mk5s allow extra capacity to be delivered 2 years sooner.

There's various options for new EMUs listed in the franchise agreement and nothing to rule out 397s being replaced by longer EMUs with 397s then cascaded across to North TPE. The lease end date for the mk5s is the same as the franchise end date with no option for early return mentioned but an option for replacing 68s with electric locos mentioned. There is the option of 185s being returned early, so if new EMUs arrived it would have been more 185s that left not the mk5s.

However, the question is if the bi-modes remain on the services operating to and via Newcastle due to sections of Manchester to Leeds not being electrified, will the mk5s remain hauled by 68s on Scarborough and Middlesbrough services or will they be replaced by more bi-modes and then maybe the mk5s get transferred to South TPE with 185s being returned? I suppose the option of mk5s being returned can't be ruled out, despite not being included in the franchise agreement, given the possible change in circumstances but DfT will need to find an alternative use for them or will have to compensate the ROSCO for the early lease termination. (Well technically First will compensate the ROSCO but DfT will have to compensate First, who will then have to compensate the ROSCO.)

With regards to mk5s being a stop-gap that what was said about HSTs in the South West in the 1970s and yet they are still being used there!