Voyagers Glasgow->Brum... why?

[JamieLei]

As far as I know, the Voyagers' systems basically involve using the diesel engines to produce electricity, which drives the motors. So it shouldn't be tat difficult to stick a pantygraph on top, and feed electricity directly to the motors through a transformer.

[Dave]

As far as I know, the Voyagers' systems basically involve using the diesel engines to produce electricity, which drives the motors. So it shouldn't be tat difficult to stick a pantygraph on top, and feed electricity directly to the motors through a transformer.

There'd be an extra pantograph car.

[JamieLei]

As far as I know, the Voyagers' systems basically involve using the diesel engines to produce electricity, which drives the motors. So it shouldn't be tat difficult to stick a pantygraph on top, and feed electricity directly to the motors through a transformer.

There'd be an extra pantograph car.

Oh that bit I got. I was just saying that as far as I know, the rest of the coaches would still be powered too, but probably from electricity rather than diesel.

[Dave]

Yeah probably, the original issue was "where are we going to fit the components for AC pickup".

Now the issue is "how are we going to fit the transformers etc for AC pickup".

When that's done, the issue will be "how long will the Voyagers be out of service for?"

And the final issue... "how much will it cost?"

At which point the project will be shelved. Although I believe it already has been. Bombardier offered to add a 6th car but the DafT had other ideas.

[Ameecher]

Bombardier approached the DfT with idea and a cost. The trouble is the cost is actually higher because the jigs used to make the 220/1/2 coaches have been dismantled and scrapped. The chances are something will only happen if the MML gets electrified as well because that'd make a big enough order for it to be viable. Currently doing the XC fleet is a waste of money because it'd only be on the ECML that they could use OHLE making the only fleet worth inserting the cars into the West Coast fleet which is pretty small.