Scotrail tender for continued LHCS on the Fife circle, possibly until 2024.

[nightstar.train]

Found this

 

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV373366

 

Scotrail are tendering for another year, or possibly 4 of services on the Fife circle. Tender seems to lean towards LHCS, but units could be used if economically viable. One important bit is 

 

Vehicles must be fitted with toilet retention tanks and comply with the Persons of Reduced Mobility TSI (and other relevant legislation)

 

So that would exclude anything except Mk4s, unless (expensive) mods are carried out. I’d like to see a set of Mk4s in Spotrail livery. Would look good. Would allow for push-pull working too if the DVTs are modded a bit, although that’s not necessary on the Fife circle, it would give flexibility to work other services. 

[mdvle]

So some research and Wikipedia reveals that Scotrail/Transport Scotland appear to have an upcoming problem.

 

In 2020 they lose 5 Class 170 units to East Midlands Railway, I assume based on the dates in the tender this will happen in December.  Scotrail/Transport Scotland appear to have decided this means 4 Fife Circle services will be without equipment (2 in each direction daily).

 

It would appear, at least in the now 11 months available, Scotrail / Transport Scotland have been unable to find anything suitable available for lease - or at least at a price they like or with a guaranteed availability.

 

Hence this request for someone else to run the service for them on a temporary basis, presumably until they can tender and buy suitable new stock or hope for something else to become available - though the fact that the request comes with possible renewals until 2024 indicates there is nothing immediate hoped for.

 

Given that it is a (possible) series of 1 year contracts this equipment is unlikely to appear in Scotrail livery regardless of what equipment is used - I suspect based on the wording / mention of LHCS that they may be hoping to get some of the charter stock for use M-F, and the stock can then be used for the regular charter stuff on weekends (and if the charter stock currently doesn't meet the environmental or disability standards, a year of guaranteed M-F revenue may make it possible for the charter operator to have the work done in time for December 2020).

 

 

[nightstar.train]

Of course by now Scotrail we’re supposed to have their full fleet of HSTs in service. Which would release a lot of  turbostars for other routes. I wonder if they’ve been told that won’t happen by the end of the year so they’re planing accordingly? 

[mdvle]

Not that one would put a lot of faith in it, but the extension Scotrail received to run the non-compliant Mk3s is valid until the end of 2020.

[great central]

No idea if it's relevant but we keep being told that EMR will have the 5 Scotrail 170s by May, not available for traffic but for training, possibly into traffic later in the year.

[37420]

8 hours ago, mdvle said:

Not that one would put a lot of faith in it, but the extension Scotrail received to run the non-compliant Mk3s is valid until the end of 2020.

Its mark 2s on the fife circle isn't it.

[mdvle]

Wikipedia says both Mk2s and Class 170s on Fife Circle, so unless a local can provide better info that is all we have to go on.

 

Two trains of Mk2s, which aren't complaint anymore - but the (at least current) extension on the Mk2s for Scotrail expires May 31st where this tender document has the service starting in December.  Maybe though it is possible DRS will have a complaint group of coaches by the end of May?

 

On the other hand, Wikipedia also says 5 of the Class 170s are leaving this year which could also roughly translate into 2 trainsets.  Unless those 5 units are spares, then Scotrail needs to make those up as well or just run shorter trains?

 

It is also possible Wikipedia is out of date, as the size of the planned cascade and the delays occurring could make keeping track of it on a volunteer basis daunting.

Edited January 6, 2020 by mdvle