Quote:
Originally Posted by David A Hicks
However they are run by different TOCs, the HSTs and 225s on NEXC are very similar, but the 170s were more designed for a town/city connecting service where passengers would change trains onto a more intercity style unit (e.g. 185 Chorley to Preston, then Pendolino Preston to Euston). It is odd that XC are operating an intercity based TOC using so very different DMUs, it would be like if Virgin took back some 158s and started operating them under their brand along with the 390s.
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However, the routes that CrossCountry are using 170s on are former Central Trains routes which must have either had 158s or 170s running them before CrossCountry took over.
170s, like 185s were built for longer distance routes despite the door arrangements and used to be used on Sheffield to St Pancras services before MML decided that a fast accelerating 100mph train was worse than the previous 125mph trains which had poor acceleration.
If more Voyager trains were built could you really justify them going to CrossCountry to replace 170s over other companies such as TP Express and NE East Coast?