Where will the trains come from?

Electric multiple units for the Midland Main Line are likely to be cascaded from other operators. Rolling stock leasing companies have plenty coming onto the market soon, and timing could be key.

The EMUs must enter traffic in December 2020, which seems to rule out the West Midlands Trains Class 350/2s, which are not available until the following year.

Greater Anglia Class 321s will be off-lease by that point, with 30 refurbished and fitted with new AC traction packages. Likewise, 21 four-car 2003-built Siemens Class 360/1s from GA are currently unaccounted for, while 30 Class 379s from GA will become homeless once replaced by Stadler EMUs. Both the ‘360’ and ‘379’ fleets will be sent offlease in August 2020.

In terms of bi-mode units, the only BMUs currently in traffic in the UK are the Class 80x fleet from Hitachi, but these are 26-metre vehicles and the infrastructure on MML is unable to support that ( RAIL 851).

Bombardier has launched a bi-mode Aventra concept, while Stadler is also building BMUs for the UK, although these are more inter-regional than inter-city trains.

As for the interim HST solution, Porterbrook would want to see a return on its investment, which means a £50 million expenditure would be unlikely.

Speculation suggests Mk 4s modified to work with HST Class 43 power cars is a possibility, but again there are concerns over the compatibility with MML infrastructure.