nebulaman
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NX Wins ECML FranchiseI am sure we all know that National Express have won the East Coast Mainline franchise but there have been several rumours doing the rounds about how it would affect ONE. Here we go!:
1) Class 91's to go to GEML and 90 + MkIII's to be transfered to ECML.
What a load of tosh!!! Why would you swap a 140mph beast with a 110mph one? You can only do 100mph on the GEML but service speeds on the ECML are 125mph with certain areas allowed to 140mph for testing! Also the ONE depots cannot cater for a whole rake of CET tanks that need to be pumped on a daily basis (Toilet tanks). The GEML would have to be re-engineered to allow the class 91's the extra clearance.
2) 90's to go to ECML and the GEML to be run with EMU's.
I am sure NX are willing to pay for traction courses for the drivers! Just because they are NX franchises doesn't mean they can swap trains willy nilly as they do not own the traction.
It's funny how a bit of news results in a vast array of wierd and wonderful rumours!
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Owen
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Thats good news and bad news I suppose. Hopefully the (wonderful but) old HST 125's that go up to Edinbourgh will be replaced by something a bit quicker. If NX work their magic, like the seem to have done with One (everthing seems much better to me, except the Bittern Line - a tad overcrowded at times), then the ECML may become a very good service.
The only downside is that I presume the nice GNER livery will now cease to exist.
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