05.12.14
What will the Pacers be replaced with?
Source: Greyoldgrumpy
All well and good to talk about new DMUs, but can someone please tell me where suitable diesel engines are coming from? As I understand it, currently there aren't any diesels suitable for placing beneath the floor of a DEMU available – there aren't any which meet current EU and US emission standards and fit within the space envelope available.
So after the general election, we'll probably get a message from government saying something like ‘don't blame us – we tried to replace the Pacers but those nasty people at Porterbrook etc wouldn't play ball.’
I understand it would be ok to build a new DMU with engines recovered from the Pacers though; emission rules relate to the procurement of new engines, and there aren't any reasons why a good old EE 12CSVT can't carry on belching out exhaust fumes indefinitely.
Re: Osborne confirms Pacer replacement, not just ‘modernisation’