PROPOSALS to put First Great Western's Adelante trains into store from next month should be shelved, according to an industry commentator.
Christian Wolmar, of Rail magazine, said the five-year-old trains, used on Oxford-London routes, should replace Class 158 trains on FGW's Cardiff-Portsmouth route, allowing the 158s to take over other services from worn-out Pacer railbuses.
Mr Wolmar said FGW did not want to pay the full cost of extending its lease for the Adelantes, while the Department for Transport was reluctant to intervene.
He accused the department of "tinkering" in the rolling-stock leasing market and added: "One thing is for sure: if comfortable 180s are sitting in the sidings, while 1980s-built Pacers bash the rails, the flak will be flying at both FGW and the department. Deservedly."
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