Thinking Outside The Boxcar

Network Rail and the Train Operating Companies have called on the government to run smaller trains outside of peak times. They're using climate change as their rationale for this - smaller trains mean less fuel used mean less CO2 emissions.

Of course, less fuel used would mean more money saved, but let's not mention that!

There is a problem with it though. Back in the 'good old days' when I started on the railway, I was regularly hopping onto the track to attach and detach engines. Splitting trains and changing engines was still practised, but it was a phenomena which was on the wane.

The modern train is a fixed formation. You cannot easily knock out a couple of coaches. For a start, the onboard computers don't like losing limbs! Plus there's the sheer bloody logistical hassle of removing carriages. That's why if your train is 8 coaches long but you only have the passengers to fill two coaches, then that's tough - you have to pull the dead weight.

I don't see that scenario changing. Fixed formation trains are comfier and quieter than the old engine+coaches rolling stock. Outside of the "enthusiast" and day-tripper community, there isn't much call to bring them back.