ROLLING stock owner Porterbrook has confirmed to The RM it is “exploring options” for the future of the 19 four-car Class 769/9 tri-mode multiple units leased to Great Western Railway, which are being handed back by the operator without turning a wheel in revenue-earning service.
GWR ended months of speculation by announcing in December that it had cancelled the introduction of the Class 769/9s (which can operate on diesel power, as well taking traction current from 750V DC third rail and 25kV AC overhead electric supplies) “in the face of revised customer growth figures”.