As well as Northern, HT, GC, GN, NXEC, who are already claiming about 18 between them.
Grand Northern, a sister company of Grand Central, set up to run Bradford-Halifax-Wakefield-London has got the nod from the ORR and plans to use 180s, two or three sets, and GC is on record as saying it has an agreement in place to use two, running as a 10-car rake, for its extra train pair (also approved by ORR).
The final 180 shake-out is still up in the air, as the ORR has yet to make decisions on NXEC extra services to Lincolnshire and Harrogate. But it has rejected Hull Trains' application to run to Harrogate.
HT has got firm agreements in place for four 180s now to replace the 222s.
I believe the three being used by Northern are sub-contracted from NXEC and only until December next year, when some LM 150s should be heading north. NXEC has said it wants six if it is to run to Lincoln and Harrogate.
So if GC/GN has four or five and HT four, that would give NXEC five or six (subject to ORR approval for the routes), which would seem to be the most sensible use of their capabilities, rather than pottering up and down on Manchester commuter turns - with those lengthy stops while coaches A and E empty through a single door.
And even if the suspension is now less 'lively' than in their early days, I'm not sure I would fancy sitting in a 180 whipping through all the tight curves north of Lancaster at 100mph, never mind 110.
