29.01.18
RDG claims 1,300 extra carriages expected by 2021
There will be 1,300 more new carriages than expected debuting on the UK rail network by 2021.
Initial projections from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) indicated that there would be around 5,700 new carriages brought into commission, but recent deals have shown this estimate to be low.
In fact, around 7,000 more carriages are expected to be in service within the next three years part of an overall plan to improve customer satisfaction and bring around £85bn of additional projected benefits.
The RDG says deals currently agreed on new stock are thought to total approximately £13.8bn in investment, although many of the projects are still far from completion.
The group also listed a number of replacement programmes which are adding to the expanded carriage estimates, such as the replacement of Northern’s infamous Pacer stock and the introduction of the new fleet of Caledonian Sleeper trains.
Responding to the news, Paul Plummer, chief executive of the RDG, commented: “With thousands of new, state-of-the-art carriages coming on track over the next three years, the partnership railway’s long-term plan is transforming journeys up and down the country.
“These new carriages will enable rail companies to work together to deliver on their commitment of at least 6,400 extra services a week, better connecting communities and helping to boost local economies from Aberdeen all the way to Penzance.”
The development of new stock for the Elizabeth Line is also a major contributory factor, with nearly 600 new carriages expected – an issue which David Sherrin, senior project manager for rolling stock at TfL, spoke to RTM about in 2017.
A number of the programmes involve the introduction of all or part of an electric train fleet, for example the new GWR Electrostars which were integrated into the network earlier this month.
“Rail customers want modern, comfortable and reliable trains and the private and public sectors working together are delivering thousands of new carriages to improve journeys around the country,” said Malcolm Brown, chair of the industry’s Rolling Stock Strategy Steering Group.
“Private sector investment in new rolling stock orders are now at a historically high level and innovation by manufacturers will see technology utilised to make trains greener, more intelligent and more accessible than ever.
“Our priority is now to ensure that all passengers across the network benefit from this new rolling stock and the sustainable investment in existing trains through careful fleet management.”
Following today’s revelation, the RDG’s long-term rolling stock strategy, published later this spring, is expected to say that the total number of carriages running on Britain’s railway is estimated to increase from 13,000 to 15,900 – a growth of 22%.
Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become an RTM columnist? If so, click here.