Network Rail has released its final version of the West Coast Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy, that looks at demand for travel over the next 12 years, following a 3 month consultation of the draft strategy published last December.
In it the infrastructure company’s recommendations include introducing an additional 28 vehicles on the busy Northampton to London Euston commuter route to ease overcrowding.
The report proposes that consideration be given to procuring vehicles that will allow Super Voyagers, currently used on the Birmingham to Scotland services, to be capable of being electrically or diesel powered.
This would be particular useful as at present the diesel powered trains make the Anglo Scottish runs along a fully electrified route.
Although the report backs the lengthening of 35 Pendolinos from 9 to 11 cars, it is somewhat more reserved on lengthening the remaining 21 sets saying that this ‘was not expected to be good value for money.’
The report also suggests that resignalling and track renewal projects should be exploited to reduce journey times along the WCML, which is the busiest mixed used route in the country.
There is double counting going on here. There are only 52 9-car 390’s, thus only 17 sets are planned to remain as 9-car. That may not make the £ numbers any better, however.