Quote:
Originally Posted by Derbyroy
rail operators do not buy "A " deisel, they buy a rail set of deisel powered rail cars in either 2, 3 4 ,5 0r 6 . packages so the cost for each must be dependent on their, composite.?
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Actually it's exceedingly rare for a TOC to buy or own rolling stock, it's usually the ROSCOs who do that. Hence the recent hypocrisy by the DfT screaming about how wicked the leasing monopoly is - when it was their predecessor which invented the present system !!!
If you're travelling on a passenger train and you're bored/curious enough, try looking at either of the end walls of the carriage near where the vehicle number is displayed. Very often you will find a little plate with Angel Trains, Porterbrook, or whatever on it. They're the true owners, and they're usually a front for a large bank such as HSBC or Abbey National. "Money makes money", as they say.
Before someone who reads RAIL jumps in and says "Yeabut".......I do know that as an exception to the rule GoAhead have just ordered 12 Class 377s which they are financing themselves. This is a peculiar one-off which is meant to speed up Thameslink 2000 Phase 0, because it would take longer if a ROSCO were to finance the deal. TL2000 should originally have started in Dec 2008, but is already delayed by 3 months due to complications in rolling stock exchange between Southern/SouthEastern/FCC(TL). It's expected that by the time the 377s are delivered (first quarter of 2009 hopefully !!!) a ROSCO will be found to buy them off GoAhead.
As I'm sure you've noticed it's a very short lead time for building rolling stock, but FCC(TL) has been allocated 27 class 377s for several years so I suspect that an order was placed before a purchaser was nominated.
If you're wondering why FCC needs (Dual Voltage) 377s - it's for the 12 car Bedford-Brighton service. At the same time it's also taking Southern's remaining 12 class 319 Dual Voltage stock for the 'new' Sevenoaks-St Albans/Luton/Bedford service which it will run in conjunction with SouthEastern. Because FCC's 319s will be covering a Networker service, some SouthEastern 465/466s will go across to Southern to make up their for 319 & 377 losses. It's very much a three way split of stock, so there is going to be quite an upheaval down in the South East soon.
(Hope this makes sense, TL2000 is very complicated).