Oh dear!
It looks like the IEP project has been reduced to plumping the cushions and painting the buffers of the HST fleet.
This from Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson yesterday:
I also wish to discuss Hitachi, which I always mention when I can because it provides a massive boost to the north-east economy; it is providing the biggest private sector investment in the north-east since Nissan. Hitachi is going to build a £90 million factory—a train-building facility—in my constituency at Newton Aycliffe.The company is going to refurbish the rolling stock for the east coast main line and for the great western line into Wales. Hitachi is going to create 500 jobs, with thousands in the supply chain.
Either a little knowledge is a dangerous thing or Marsham Street is to be saluted for its frugal perspicacity.
UPDATE: This from The Cynic, who has discovered even greater savings...
UPDATE: This from The Cynic, who has discovered even greater savings...
Well, it won't take them very long to paint the 'buffers of the HST fleet'
The remaining power cars have has just 16 buffers fitted between them!