More trains for TransPennine Express

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Seems you're quite keen to dole out the criticism but less so to receive it. I'll leave others to decide whether it was a cheap jibe or a robust response to your criticism of First Group.

I'm quite happy to see my point of view countered. Less enamoured to see it done with personal attacks accusing me of pedantry and of making cheap jibes.

A perfect counter point was made by Rhygalad. Free of any personal dig.

The money trail is Byzantine. And it could be said that ultimately First Group/TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) are paying for the new rolling stock through the lease payments. But they are only doing so for 7 years which is in no way an investment. Lease fees are a cost to the business. Those 7 years of lease fees won't come close to covering the purchase price of the stock. Stock that will have a 'life' of over 30 years.

Further news outlets today continue to trot out that TPE have spent ^230 million. Yes, the media can be lazy, but they are not helped by being fed misleading press releases.

[ChrisB]

Seems you're quite keen to dole out the criticism but less so to receive it. I'll leave others to decide whether it was a cheap jibe or a robust response to your criticism of First Group.

I'm quite happy to see my point of view countered. Less enamoured to see it done with personal attacks accusing me of pedantry and of making cheap jibes.

Hand on heart - you don't then?

[Chris125]

That's what I was getting at in referring to the remote control of the 68s - it does need a DVT^▸ (Driving Van Trailer (carriage) or Deep Vein Thrombosis, depending on context) cab end for their carriage; designed, tested and built in under two years. That does sound a bit of a challenge.

It seems they will initially be operated top and tailed by 68s, with the driving-end vehicles delivered last and presumably following a period of testing and driver training.