Which brake coach used

[Shane H-G]

Hi. When would LNER use a full brake coach, and when would they use a composite brake coach - or did it not matter which they used? Thanks

[jwealleans]

Well, for a start, there's no passenger seating in a full brake, so if you replace a BC or BT with one of those, people are going to complain.

It depends on volumes of whatever's being carried - if it's all luggage or parcels, roster a BG, if there are passengers then a BT, if there are well-heeled passengers then a BC. A BC is a self-contained train so for through carriages would be the first choice, but if traffic exceeded capacity then you'd expand it - go to a C + BT, maybe, with the amount of luggage space dependent on traffic and so on. It's quite a complex calculation and it's interesting to look at the formations of trains over successive years and see them develop.

Is there a context for the question?

[Shane H-G]

Thanks - really helpful answer.