On 9 Jan, 22:52, "Paul Scott" wrote:
There is an article about the Class 172 orders in this month's Todays
Railway UK. Apparently the 9 GOB units have been ordered, by the Angel
Trains ROSCo, and apparently they are due for delivery in 2009 before the
larger batch of 2 and 3 car units for GoVia West Midlands. I assume the
significance of the Angel finance, rather than TfL purchase, is that they
can be moved on to another TOC if at some time in the future the Goblin is
electrified?

AIUI that's exactly the thinking behind this move. TfL remain keen on
Goblin electrification, so apart from anything else buying diesel
trains for the route would hardly help them in pushing that argument
forward - it would just make it easier for the DfT to stay with the
current status quo.

TfL is a fairly wily beast when it comes to dealing with central
government - indeed it seems somewhat reminiscent of the LPTB of the
30's (and indeed those who pushed government to set up the LPTB).
Except this time there's an elected Mayor pushing things forward.