John B wrote:
Marratxi wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5369688.stm

On the whole I think this is good news, and they have made a
committment to Island Line too.

Perhaps the BBC didn't choose the most appropriate photo to go with
their report.

According to Roger Ford the class 458s are why Stagecoach won it.


It just gets worse and worse !!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_458

Wiki article is way out of date, unfortunately (might fix it today if I
get the time). The latest facts are that:
* Porterbrook have come up with a relatively cheap way of fixing the
PIS.
* Failure time for the units with SWT has fallen significantly.
* SWT is no longer only using the units to cover failed/unavailable
Desiros.

The latest rumours, as reported by Roger Ford and mentioned by Colin
above, a
* When the new Desiro build comes online, SWT will keep the 458s and
take the 442s (Wessex Electrics) off-lease.
* DfT/Porterbrook might then offer Southern the 442s as a substitute
for its 319s - they're more suited to the Brighton route than the
suburban-ish 319s and exist in about the right numbers.



I would assume that they would only indirectly replace 319s and
actually replace 377s on Brighton Express.

But are full length Mark 3s cleared for that line anyway?