Railways in Parliament

摘要

Angie Bray (Ealing Central and Acton) asked what progress has been made on rolling stock procurement. Transport Minister Teresa Villiers said: "On November 25, the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed that the procurement process for new Thameslink trains would go ahead. The identification of a preferred bidder and contract award is anticipated for next year. In addition, the Secretary of State announced that most of Britain's ageing Intercity 125 high-speed trains are to be retired once replacements are in service. "Two alternative options remain under consideration: a revised and lower cost Intercity Express Programme bid from Agility Trains (Hitachi and John Laing), which envisages a mixture of electric trains and 'hybrid'trains with both electric and diesel engines; and a new proposal for a fleet of new all-electric trains, which could be coupled to new diesel locomotives where the overhead electric power lines end.