wrote:
Paul G wrote:
Planned upgrade for rail routes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5301610.stm
...
In a separate announcement, the Bombardier company said it had been
awarded a UKP223m contract with Transport for London to provide new
electric trains on the East London Line and the North London Railway.

The 100mph Electrostars will be introduced by May 2009.

Is it really sensible/cost-effective to have 100mph capability for
these, rather than modify (presumably re-gear) for better acceleration
- or have a lower-spec traction package? I can't imagine that there's
much chance of the units exceeding 50mph, unless they operate on other
(non-TfL) routes at some point in the future.

Perhaps it's cheaper that way, as they can just supply another
off-the-shelf electrostar. What is the top speed of a 376? I'm
guessing that is what these trains will end up being.

Robin