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So they are going to electrify the GWR and Midland Main lines I'm a lot younger than some of you guys and don't expect work starting this side of 2020
As for 5 coach units they are liked by rail management because they are cheaper than 7 or 9 which is actually whats needed for passenger numbers. So for some services they will just couple 2 together (but try to use just one crew to man it) but they won't do all of them just observe the Class 222 services Sheffield to St Pancras most are 5 car just occassional ones are 2 units coupled together.
Also note the XCountry 221/220 services Scotland - South West apart from 2 services running HST's there are just 4 timetabled runs which call for a 220+221 coupled together giving a 9 car unit (occasionally due to maintainence you get 2x221's or 2x220).
It would be nice to see other TOC's behaving like East Midland Trains who have a choice of 9car 5car or 4car sets to choose from depending on loading forecasts, I doubt that Arriva/Cross Country ever will as they do things as cheap as possible.
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