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EMT HST's reduced to 6 coaches

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26006

Posts: 67
EMT HST's reduced to 6 coaches - Posted: December 10, 2020 - 7:50 PM Quote and reply
It has been reported on a popular railway forum that East Midland Trains HST formations are to be reduced to 6 coaches from the timetable change on Dec 14th.
This should create some additional performance interest - as the 6-coach sets tend to be more sprightly with their lighter load.



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4027F

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Re: EMT HST's reduced to 6 coaches - Posted: December 11, 2020 - 2:07 PM Quote and reply
26006 said:
It has been reported on a popular railway forum that East Midland Trains HST formations are to be reduced to 6 coaches from the timetable change on Dec 14th.
This should create some additional performance interest - as the 6-coach sets tend to be more sprightly with their lighter load.



I've not heard this news but if it is true then I would suggest this would reduce the performance interest rather than increase it. My measure of this is the amount of full power engagement needed to match or beat the schedule. Currently eight car sets need a very high proportion of top notch running to do this. Any changes to the point to point times are extremely unlikely and it can be safely assumed that six car sets will need 25% or so less effort to achieve the same end.
Lighter loads generally mean less requirement for full power and less emphasis on driver technique as any recovery actions from misjudgements tend to have a more immediate effect.
It is true that some faster actual times may be achievable as a result of the load lightening but a faster time does not always equate to better performance..... I guess it depends how you look at it.

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