Menu
02/03/2011
Green Light For New Trains Gives Boost
Scotland, Wales, northern and south west England are to get a fleet of new trains and more reliable rail links to London, creating thousands of jobs, boosting the economy and improving services for passengers, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has said.
He gave the go-ahead for the £4.5bn Intercity Express Programme (IEP) and the £704m plans to electrify the Great Western Main Line (GWML) between Cardiff, Bristol and Didcot.
The Government announced it has decided to resume the IEP procurement and proceed with the Agility Trains (Hitachi and John Laing) consortium's plans for replacement for the nation's fleet of ageing intercity high speed trains. This will mean 500 new carriages which will provide 11,000 more peak-time seats for passengers, every day on the GWML and ECML.
Hitachi had previously announced its intention to build a new train factory in County Durham to build the new order, creating more than 500 new jobs and securing thousands of additional jobs in sub-supplier industries in north east England, giving a further boost to Britain's manufacturing industry. This factory is expected to be operational by 2013.
The announcement to electrify the sections between Cardiff, Bristol and Didcot builds on November's announcement of electrification between London Paddington, Didcot, Newbury and Oxford, and will give Wales its very first main line electrified railway, cutting 17 minutes from Cardiff to London journeys and 22 minutes from Bristol to London journeys. Electric trains are not only quicker, but quieter, smoother and more reliable than diesels. They are also cleaner - producing no emissions at their point of use.
Philip Hammond said: "This is good news for jobs, passengers and the economy. Our decision to buy a new fleet of trains and electrify new lines will allow rail passengers along the Great Western and East Coast corridors to benefit from massive improvements to journey times, more seats and more reliable services.
"Alongside our plans for High Speed Rail, it completes a picture of massive upgrades to our intercity rail corridors over the coming years.
"Whilst this is, of course, subject to the Government continuing to be satisfied that the proposal offers value for money as the commercial negotiations are concluded and that the final arrangements are compliant with the United Kingdom's EU obligations, I expect that the first of the new trains will be in service by 2016."
The £4.5bn programme will see the building of a combination of around 100 electric trains and bi-mode, diesel and electric, intercity trains which will run to Great Western Main Line stations including Oxford, Swindon, Reading, Cardiff, Swansea, Bath and Bristol and to East Coast Main Line stations such as Peterborough, York, Doncaster, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness.
(BMcN/GK)
He gave the go-ahead for the £4.5bn Intercity Express Programme (IEP) and the £704m plans to electrify the Great Western Main Line (GWML) between Cardiff, Bristol and Didcot.
The Government announced it has decided to resume the IEP procurement and proceed with the Agility Trains (Hitachi and John Laing) consortium's plans for replacement for the nation's fleet of ageing intercity high speed trains. This will mean 500 new carriages which will provide 11,000 more peak-time seats for passengers, every day on the GWML and ECML.
Hitachi had previously announced its intention to build a new train factory in County Durham to build the new order, creating more than 500 new jobs and securing thousands of additional jobs in sub-supplier industries in north east England, giving a further boost to Britain's manufacturing industry. This factory is expected to be operational by 2013.
The announcement to electrify the sections between Cardiff, Bristol and Didcot builds on November's announcement of electrification between London Paddington, Didcot, Newbury and Oxford, and will give Wales its very first main line electrified railway, cutting 17 minutes from Cardiff to London journeys and 22 minutes from Bristol to London journeys. Electric trains are not only quicker, but quieter, smoother and more reliable than diesels. They are also cleaner - producing no emissions at their point of use.
Philip Hammond said: "This is good news for jobs, passengers and the economy. Our decision to buy a new fleet of trains and electrify new lines will allow rail passengers along the Great Western and East Coast corridors to benefit from massive improvements to journey times, more seats and more reliable services.
"Alongside our plans for High Speed Rail, it completes a picture of massive upgrades to our intercity rail corridors over the coming years.
"Whilst this is, of course, subject to the Government continuing to be satisfied that the proposal offers value for money as the commercial negotiations are concluded and that the final arrangements are compliant with the United Kingdom's EU obligations, I expect that the first of the new trains will be in service by 2016."
The £4.5bn programme will see the building of a combination of around 100 electric trains and bi-mode, diesel and electric, intercity trains which will run to Great Western Main Line stations including Oxford, Swindon, Reading, Cardiff, Swansea, Bath and Bristol and to East Coast Main Line stations such as Peterborough, York, Doncaster, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness.
(BMcN/GK)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
28 August 2012
Virgin Trains To Continue Court Proceedings
Virgin Trains Limited will commence Court proceedings in respect of West Coast Main Line franchise award. The firm said in a statement: "Virgin Trains Limited (VTL) has today commenced Court proceedings in respect of the decision to award the West Coast Main Line franchise to FirstGroup.
Virgin Trains To Continue Court Proceedings
Virgin Trains Limited will commence Court proceedings in respect of West Coast Main Line franchise award. The firm said in a statement: "Virgin Trains Limited (VTL) has today commenced Court proceedings in respect of the decision to award the West Coast Main Line franchise to FirstGroup.
25 July 2012
£4.5bn Railway Contract To Create 900 Jobs
A £4.5bn contract to build and maintain new inter-city trains will also see the creation of more than 900 new jobs, the Department for Transport has said. Agility Trains - a consortium made up of Japanese firm Hitachi and UK builder John Laing - will build 92 new trains, consisting of 596 new carriages, at a new factory in County Durham.
£4.5bn Railway Contract To Create 900 Jobs
A £4.5bn contract to build and maintain new inter-city trains will also see the creation of more than 900 new jobs, the Department for Transport has said. Agility Trains - a consortium made up of Japanese firm Hitachi and UK builder John Laing - will build 92 new trains, consisting of 596 new carriages, at a new factory in County Durham.
05 March 2009
Delivery Of New Trains To Be Speeded Up By New Company
Passengers on some of the country's busiest rail lines could see improvements arrive more quickly after Transport Minister Andrew Adonis announced that his Department had set up a new company to oversee the procurement of 202 new diesel train carriages.
Delivery Of New Trains To Be Speeded Up By New Company
Passengers on some of the country's busiest rail lines could see improvements arrive more quickly after Transport Minister Andrew Adonis announced that his Department had set up a new company to oversee the procurement of 202 new diesel train carriages.
12 February 2009
Massive Jobs Boost With 'Biggest' Rail Order
Over 12,500 jobs are to be created with the single biggest investment in Intercity trains for a generation, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon announced today. Agility Trains has been selected as the preferred bidder for a £7.5bn contract to build and maintain a fleet of new Super Express trains for the Great Western and East Coast main lines.
Massive Jobs Boost With 'Biggest' Rail Order
Over 12,500 jobs are to be created with the single biggest investment in Intercity trains for a generation, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon announced today. Agility Trains has been selected as the preferred bidder for a £7.5bn contract to build and maintain a fleet of new Super Express trains for the Great Western and East Coast main lines.
27 November 2014
Inter City Railways Scoops East Coast Franchise
The Government has awarded its East Coast franchise to Inter City Railways, a consortium of Stagecoach and Virgin. Rail journeys between London and Edinburgh will be transformed by more seats, more services and new trains.
Inter City Railways Scoops East Coast Franchise
The Government has awarded its East Coast franchise to Inter City Railways, a consortium of Stagecoach and Virgin. Rail journeys between London and Edinburgh will be transformed by more seats, more services and new trains.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
