THERE seems to be a log jam when it comes to ordering new trains or refurbishing fleets.
This looks already like it will cost Derby Litchurch Lane its future, with questions likely to be asked of other factories, and indeed various facilities, if decisions are not made soon.
As it stands, several operators have signalled their intention or aspiration to order new fleets, although only one operator on the national network, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has so far placed an order this decade with 10 ten-car tri-modes on order from CAF (RE332). HS2 has also got an outstanding order for 54 trains, for the new railway, that are being constructed by an Alstom/Hitachi joint venture.
The operators that have signalled their intent to acquire new fleets include Chiltern Railways, Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, London Underground, MTR Elizabeth Line, Northern, ScotRail, Southeastern and TransPennine Express, yet so far nothing has been ordered.
It is known that a cascade of seven Class 221s from Avanti West Coast to CrossCountry is planned, and that the latter is planning a major revamp of its Voyager fleet for what is expected to be their first significant refurbishment since their introduction in 2002. It is also expected to be their last.
Further to this are various notices by Chiltern Railways and Govia Thameslink Railway expressing interest in acquiring new fleets which would suggest that the 13 rakes of Mk.5As withdrawn by TPE after less than four years in traffic, and the 30 four-car Class 379 electric multiple units withdrawn by Greater Anglia after around a decade after their introduction, could find new homes. Both cascades have so far been denied by the operators.
However, the introduction of these various new fleets could see the market flooded with redundant rolling stock, although much of it is reaching the end of its working life.
Nevertheless, the state of the rolling stock market and the need to refurbish existing fleets has reached Government, with questions being asked. On December 7, 2023, Labour MP Grahame Morris raised the question in parliamentary debate. He asked the secretary of state for transport to make a statement on expediting the contract process for refurbishing existing UK trains.
The Secretary of State, Mark Harper, was not involved in the debate, with Rail Minister Huw Merriman instead left to explain the situation. He replied: “The Department [for Transport]
