TPE ‘horses for courses’

Robert Hope asks why TransPennine Express didn’t standardise on one new train instead of getting three.

I think it’s a matter of ‘horses for courses’, as it has routes with three different sets of needs.

The East Coast services to Tyneside and Scotland run under wires except between Manchester and York. They require high speed electric bi-mode trains. The obvious answer is the Hitachi 800 series.

The West Coast services are fully electrified. Using the Hitachi bi-modes here would certainly involve lugging around a heavy load of engines. There are also alternators, radiators and tanks of fuel to be carried - all increase energy and maintenance costs.

The trains are also much more expensive to buy than the CAF Class 397s, which are very similar to Northern’s ‘331s’ and fit the job. There are some electrified diversion routes in the North West and diesel locomotives are already on duty for Pendolino breakdowns.

TPE’s other services are on lines that are mostly not electrified and don’t need such high speeds. The high cost of Hitachi bi-modes could not be justified, whereas the use of hired-in DRS Class 68s and hauled carriages is ingenious and gives future flexibility.

If electric haulage becomes possible in future, TPE will send the ‘68s’ back and haul the same carriages with further leased electric or bi-mode locomotives.

I understand TPE is contracting out the maintenance of the ‘800s’ and ‘397s’. DRS will be maintaining the ‘68s’. Therefore, economies of scale, familiarity and staff training are not an issue.

Jeff Davies, Bolton