On Wed, 9 Aug 2017 13:09:50 +0100, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message
-sept
ember.org, at 10:01:39 on Wed, 9 Aug 2017, Recliner
remarked:

It occurs to me that if the line is electrified to Corby (despite it
being "North of Kettering", that's what the "Bedford to Kettering
electrification" is all about) then they could release the three
Meridians used for that service to replace HSTs on the main line.

Three short Meridians wouldn't be enough, surely?

No. And it would be politically unacceptable

Whereas scrapping almost all the new MML electrification *is*
politically acceptable?

Unavoidable, if embarrassing, after NR's electrification failures. NR
had re-started it back after the previous 'pause', and maybe they will
again one day, but certainly not before the GWML work has been
completed, and lessons learned from the fiasco.


for the new MML franchise to make no use of the newly electrified line.

It wouldn't be making "no use"; there'd be EMUs from St Pancras to
Corby, assuming that route wasn't transferred to Thameslink.

I'm assuming it'll be transferred to TL. It's roughly the same
distance as Peterborough, and it'll take pressure off the four MML St
Pancras platforms, particularly if they're being used by longer IEPs
than the current 222s.

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/rail-...82823601204305


So it's a safe bet that Grayling knew what he was talking about when he
announced that bi-modes would be used.

He knew he was buying time, knowing that this frog still has several
rounds of being boiled to come.

Given the necessary timing to order replacement trains before the HSTs
are retired, the announcement will have to be made fairly soon, well
before the new MML franchise starts. So it'll be the DfT making the
decision, and guess what train they have a soft spot for?