On 7/29/2016 6:12 PM, Recliner wrote:
[...]
The DfT ordered the TL class 700s, and did it in such an inept way that
Siemens won, not because it was offering a better or cheaper train, but
because the company had a better credit rating. Had the trains been
ordered through a ROSCO they'd certainly be cheaper, and would probably
have included features that the civil servants forgot, such as tray tables
and wifi.


I haven't followed that story closely - so Siemen's superior credit
rating is what won it?! Somewhat bizarre.

One imagines that the missing tray tables must have been bought up by
Siemens.

Missing wifi I can kinda understand - those who really need/want it will
have their own mobile data connectivity, and it's yet more electronic
kit for the train - but no tray tables is a daft omission.