IEPs?
 

Who here is up on the Hitachi IEP project? I am and I think it STINKS:mad: !!! An EMU on the ECML just wouldn't work. it would also take away all the fun of locomotives. And what's this hybrid idea?
Tell me what you think...

I do agree, looking at the interior pics on news bulletins the seats look rather 'stick' like and uncomfortable. We are losing a good deal of good trains on our network and will be a shame to lose the great 225s to a bunch of unit based things. OK, I accept the HSTs are getting old and need replacing, and can see a great use for these on the GW, but what is wrong with the Mk4 stock (other than it is operated under NXEC!)?

I don't particularly like EMU's but why do you say they wouldn't work?

Perhaps I'm just being sentimental, but I do think that any sort of MU would not work for long distance trains up the ECML because the lengths of trains vary at different times of year and from year to year, so if the capacity had to be increased then they would have to couple two of the 8-car jobs together, which would not only make them too long for the platform, but would make an uncrossable break in the middle of the train.

But maybe I'm wrong. How do you respond?

That's interesting. I didn't know that the ECML operators adjusted the length of their loco-hauled trains to suit demand.
I haven't studied the project but from what I can gather the coaches of the new trains will be 3 metres longer and therefore a complete train will carry up to 21% more passengers which should eliminate the need to add more coaches.
In saying this I am not advocating the use of EMU's/DMU's as, like you, I would much rather see loco hauled trains but I'm afraid we must change with the times.

Ah but you see it is really a Government plan to make railways much less interesting and thus discourage people from loitering around taking pictures and having opinions etc.
Having never really accepted privatisation myself I can say that it works, since my interest in railways stops at 1998.
The best place for EMU,s is the zoo.
Only kidding.

i think the IEP (inter-city express program) is just a pile of crap,to tell you the truth it dos'nt have the 'british train' look either,and to me a 'diesel' suites the inter-city brand and EMU's just spoil the inter-city brand in my mind,and whats the point of being more eco-friendly with electric because every one knows how its generated,and when the'IEP' are put into service i can see im never going to take to them,i think the HST is britains most iconic train,and when there gone all the fun stops on inter-city areas.:(