Our analysis is as follows
Total coaches to be withdrawn between now and 2010
182 in total (total Mk3, Mk3intl, Mk3pp and Mk2d on books classfied as in service or undergoing maintenance as of Jan 2007)
Total coaches to be added between now and 2010
183
A senior Irish Rail manager (hello) denied this in public claiming it was wrong to include generator vans and buffets in the numbers (they are still classified as passenger coaches) but the facts are undeniable
Net gain in seats is 8%, its probably closer to 20% when you factor in higher utilisation, but still at 10% per annum growth its not worth much and will in fact mean at peak times there will be marginally fewer seats in a train than compared to now.
Currently there are no orders of either diesel or electric commuter trains.
To make the 2008 deadline, 10 coaches a month need to arrive every month till then, they need to be commissioned, I don't see it happening
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