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Is this just a vicious rumor or might we see the return of ECML Adelante's to FGW in the near future???

Does anyone know ???

Which 180s are you referring to as they are all connected with an operator that runs on the East Coast Mainline:

First Hull Trains have 4 180s used on Hull-Kings X, which replaced 222s that went to EMT for Corby-St Pancras.

Grand Central have 5 180s for Sunderland/Bradford-Kings X, which they have just spent a lot of money on reliability improvements, refurbishment and adding wi-fi.

NXEC have 5 180s, 3 are subleased to Northern to cover for 8 158s that are subleased to First Scotrail until December 2010.  One of Northern's 180 diagrams is regularly replaced with single 150 or 156, due to reliability problems.*  NXEC have included the 5 units in their December 2010 plans, but had no use for them until their track application for extra services was approved.

*Doing that likely causes Northern to lose revenue for Manchester-Preston to TransPennine Express and they lose a GMPTE subsidary for not strengthening services, so it must be that they are in a bad state rather than Northern opting against using them.

I'm not 100% sure but think it might be the NXEC ones.

Well I think those would be the only ones which could become available.  First Hull Trains need those 180s and there wouldn't be any units available to replace them.  Grand Central wouldn't pay for refurbishment for another TOC to take over before they've even got them all in service.

There is uncertainity in the NXEC franchise as it will be taken over the government in a few months until a new operator is found.  NXEC did seem to prefer 180s over shorter loco hauled trains as it would enable portion workings, but then it won't be NX for much longer.

If only the reliability issues can be sorted (perhaps they are being?) a few Adelantes would be useful IMHO.  Something intermediate between HST and Turbo for long distance routes (ie to Worcester) where a Turbo just really isn't good enough in terms of comfort (and could be used elsewhere) but an HST is too long to fill.

Might they also be useful cover to allow Turbo refurbishment to be speeded up?

I don't think there is as much uncertainty about the ECML franchise as you might expect. The additional services to Lincoln, and Bradford via Leeds, are a key part of the 6 tph clockface timetable for the ECML, and were a SLC2 franchise requirement. If the DfT was to let itself off the planned improvements on the ECML, surely all other franchisees would have a good case to go back and request that their future commitments are revisited?  If you go back to the time GNER were in their 'management contract' phase, having already thrown in the towel, they still carried on with the half hourly Leeds improvements, despite a lot of suggestions that it would be abandoned.

What is possible is that DfT's company may alter the rolling stock plan - indeed Tony Miles of Modern Railways has been saying as much in uk.railway.  My suggestion is that NewECMLCo should do a swap with GC - 180s for HSTs (which would need lengthening)! Whatever changes are made the Lincoln service at least will require diesel power - perhaps they should consider LHCS with 67s for Lincoln and 90s for Bradford? Loco change wherever the route diverges from the mainline?

But the 180s that are with Northern could be a sticking point, maybe they would have first dibs if they don't go to the ECML?  Also, there is still the fact that FGW spent a couple of years telling everyone who'd listen that the 180s were a bag of bolts and they wanted rid - would they be prepared to eat the necessary humble pie?

Paul

There are 3 180 sets at Bounds Green care of NXEC...as much to stop other interlopers hiring them, just in case NXEC win harrogate or Lincoln services...er.

Suggestion that they should be swopped with GC's three 125 sets which NX boys are adept at dealing with. I'm sure there's an operator's expression for this but it makes sense to gather all the available kit under one roof!

So, as yet, no free 180s I guess :-\