Informed Sources
http://www.modern-railways.com April 2019 Modern Railways 35
Intercity Express Programme – now
the Class 800 series – trains since 2011.
I say mythical, because many and
varied have been the numbers since
the hapless Theresa Villiers, then a
Transport Minister, piqued my interest
in a written answer containing
numbers which were beyond wrong –
some flattering IEP and others making
it look a very bad buy indeed.
As explained in an earlier column,
working out a simple formula
has provided difficult because of
different 800 Series configurations,
axle loads, changes to bogie
specification and, most recently, the
requirement to fit filters (chokes) to
the powered vehicles. But, according
to informed sources, resolution
may now be only months away.
However, my latest search did add
some new trains to the list. Not least,the ScotRail Class 385s, the Northern
Class 769 bi-modes and even the
Vivarail Class 230s. So in Table 8 I have
listed the EMUs in approximately
ascending order of cost per mile
for the motored vehicles.
Obviously, the price is based
on a range of factors, from
suspension parameters to
axle load. But it is interesting
to note the variation between
the three Desiro City classes.
Packaging of equipment is a factor
to note. Longer trains have more
vehicles over which essential stuff
can be spread, reducing individual
vehicle weights. In this respect, it is
informative to compare the Class 395
and the Class 385. Obviously the
Class 395’s stiffer bogies for 140mph
running have an effect, but to
reduce the Variable usage chargefor a six-car train of 9.85(M)/9.53(T)
to the charges shown in Table 8 for
the three- and four-car Class 385s
is quite an achievement.
And for completeness, Table 9
gives the data for the Class 230. For
reference, a Class 142 Pacer costs
5.62 pence/mile and a Class 150 5.71.ERRORS AND OMISSIONS
Following up my February review
of new train deliveries and the
accessibility status of the heritage
stock they are replacing, Eversholtreminded me that its Class 315s
are also PRM-TSI compliant. Could
come in handy for some operator!
Also, my old chum David
Powell at Merseytravel expressed
surprise that I did not include his
new Stadler Class 777 units in
the table. In fact, the new trains
were not forgotten; the analysis
was focused on fleets due to be
delivered in 2019 and the first of his
custom-designed trains is due to
enter service in February 2020. Be
careful what you wish for, David! aTABLE 8: VARIABLE TRACK USAGE CHARGES
Operator Vehicle Type Unit formation Maker Pence per vehicle mile
Govia Thameslink Railway 717/M 6-car Siemens 5.39
Govia Thameslink Railway 717/T 3.82
MTR Crossrail 345/M FLU 9-car Bombardier 5.13
MTR Crossrail 345/M RLU 7-car 5.53
MTR Crossrail 345/T 3.20
South Western Railway 707/M 5-car Siemens 5.78
South Western Railway 707/T 3.82
Govia Thameslink Railway 700/M 8- and 12-car Siemens 6.19
Govia Thameslink Railway 700/T 4.95
Abellio ScotRail 385/M 3- and 4-car Hitachi 7.67
Abellio ScotRail 385/T 5.53
Govia Thameslink Railway 387/M 4-car Bombardier 8.97
Govia Thameslink Railway 387/T 7.72
Arriva Rail North 769/M 4-car Porterbrook/Brush 15.27
Arriva Rail North 769/T 6.33
Note: M = Motored. T = TrailerTABLE 9: CLASS 230 VARIABLE
USAGE CHARGE PENCE/VEHICLE MILE230/M 7.19
230/T 5.74
Source: Network RailInto the table: Class 385. No 385103 was caught by the camera at Gartshore loop while working
the 12.00 Edinburgh Waverley – Glasgow Queen Street on 10 December 2018. Steven Fraser032-035_MR_Apr 2019_informed 2-3.indd 35 12/03/2019 15:02