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[email protected] · October 14th 08, 10:51 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In article
,
(D7666) wrote:

On Oct 14, 12:49 am, Mr Thant
wrote:

No, four car equivalent units are required by the spec. They don't
actually have to be four cars, but they have to be that length. The
"8 and 12 car trains on order" is them talking down to the public.

While that may or may not be in the spec I do not know having not read
it in that detail, there is however a very serious rumour from well
placed informed sources that fixed formation trains of 12 cars are
under consideration for NGEMU.

I do not know any more than heard it from a respected source.

You and me both then. My source was at the national HQ of a TOC-owning
group.

My guess - and I am pure speculating - that to meet the weight
specification one or more maker (but I have one in particular in mind)
might be offering - or at least someone is suggesting - articulation.
While artics in any length above one car are obviously possible, the
longer the artic set is the more weight saving it offers, and there
are less bogies to build and maintain. That would appeal to DfT where
the bean counting mandarins will be looking at every penny costs.
12car of 6+6 half sets not divisibale except at dep[ot , each half
with 7 bogies, end bogies trailer, 5 intermediate power bogies is one
way to do fixed fromation 12-car trains.

My source was specific that it was the cost and complexity of intermediate
cabs, as a result of talking to TfL who have been reducing or
sub-equipping upon modernisation intermediate cabs. With ERTMS and GSM-R
coming the complexity and cost of cabs is rising.

Or simply 6car sets.

I have wodered in the past if reallly 4/8/12 car trains is the way to
go with TL. By the time we get to year 2012, 2015 etc, I suspect there
is going to be little demand for 4 car trains at any time of the day
incl. weekends and night , bearing in mind air passenger traffic to
both LTN and LGW.

6cars might be the obvious ''small'' train to operate.

I agree this could be a way to go. Except that I'm not sure King's Lynn
can handle 6 car trains. Certainly, 4 car trains are needed for local
services between Royston and Cambridge due to short platforms at Meldreth,
Shepreth and Foxton.

--
Colin Rosenstiel