(18 Jun 2015, 7:24 pm)northern156 wrote It's all very well saying 'purchase new trains' but DB Regio has said it wants tram-like trains next. This in itself would require extensive overhaul of the whole system (including track and signalling) which could well be more expensive than the modernisation itself.
(18 Jun 2015, 8:07 pm)Malarkey wrote So in short Millions is being wasted in Modernisation of the System, When in a few years there will be an extensive overhaul which again will cost Millions, seems DB Regio/Nexus are than capable of thinking logically, might as well stop wasting Millions and crack on with the extensive overhaul now.
It's just another mooted option. DB Regio can have a preference, but ultimately it's Nexus (or the Combined Authority) who have to justify that their plans offer the best value for public money. Not to mention being robust enough to win funding from central Government... it's highly unlikely that local budgets are going to anywhere near enough to fund such plans alone.
It's probably a good time to note that Nissan is expanding it's Sunderland footprint again. The rate of expansion over the last 5 years tells me that the ability to transport by rail freight must be on their agenda.