(23 Jun 2014, 7:09 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote In total agreement with you and others on this.
Granted the x46 is just two runs a day, but it still forms part of a board (which if the vehicles are purchased) the b5 will be used on.
It seems pointless evaluating the vehicle for part of the route, but not all.
It may be a roaring success on the x21, but the runs on the x46 may kill it.
The only logical reason I can think of as to why it wont be used on the x46 - is that it is being kept away from prying eyes and as a result, is being stabled overnight at Chester.
On a different note: If manufacturers are going down the route and offering this underpowered type of engine, schedulers may have to add more running time into timetables.
Under the pretence that traffic is to blame
Can't see what the fuss regarding the B5 and 9131 working a X46 is. The X46 is merely a positioning journey that is slackly timed and doesn't carry a great deal of passengers. The boards that work X46s actually have some of the busiest X21 journeys, and I think when evaluating a vehicle you need it on busy runs?!