MPs query ‘cast off’ trains plan
COMMUTERS in the North West should not have to put up with “cast-off” trains from London, an influential body of MPs has said.
The Commons Transport Select Committee also cast doubt on the ability of Network Rail to deliver large infrastructure programmes after the chaos over Christmas which saw King’s Cross close after repairs overran.
In its report, Investing in the Railway, the committee demanded clarification from the Department for Transport about its plans for HS3 and improving trans-Pennine links, and how that fits in with investment in the existing network.
Despite Chancellor George Osborne’s boast in the Autumn Statement that the Government would be replacing the “ancient and unpopular Pacer carriages”, the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, refused to set a deadline as to when this would happen.
The MPs said: “By refusing to give a date for when the Pacer trains will be taken out of service and simply saying that he “hopes” they have had their day, the Secretary of State has suggested that he does not have the powers to ensure a decent quality of train for passengers in the North and South West of England or in Wales.
“It is concerning that the Department has chosen to order brand new trains for passengers in London and the South East, while expecting passengers in the rest of the country to be content with reconditioned older trains—cast-offs from more prosperous areas.”
With pressure on Government subsidies, especially with figures showing northern passengers receive greater total subsidies than elsewhere, significant price rises have been mooted.
But the report quotes Anthony Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus, who told the inquiry that “trying to explain to somebody on Leeds station who cannot get on to a 25yearold Pacer train that their fares might have to go up for a service they might never use in the future” would be “a tough sell”.
Acknowledging concerns about delays and rising costs for the electrification programme, and its knock-on effect on future projects, the committee said: “We are concerned that key rail enhancement projects — such as electrification in the North and North West of England — have been announced by Ministers without Network Rail having a clear estimate of what the projects will cost, leading to uncertainty about whether the projects will be delivered on time, or at all.
“When a project is announced, the Department and Network Rail must be clear and transparent about how it is to be funded, and how advanced it is in costings.
“Electrification of lines in the North West, the North trans-Pennine line, and the Midland Main Line, should not be put at risk due to the projected overspend on the Great Western Main Line. If a rail electrification project is announced for delivery in a set time period, there should be an expectation that it will be delivered on time.”
The huge problems that affected services after Christmas maintenance overran has affected confidence in Network Rail’s ability.
“Network Rail’s capacity to deliver this ambitious programme has been brought into question following the Christmas 2014 overrunning engineering works, which caused chaos for thousands of passengers expecting to travel to and from Paddington and King’s Cross,” they said. “The continued disruption at London Bridge has compounded these concerns: Network Rail must demonstrate that it can deliver the objectives it has been funded to deliver.”
The MPs were critical of the proposals for the Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, which are currently going through the tendering process.
They said: “We are disappointed that the consultation proposals for the Northern and TransPennine Express franchises have not focused on increasing capacity and improving rolling stock, but instead suggested that passengers in the north must make trade-offs between fares and decent journeys.
“Rail North was clear that fare increases on the Northern franchise could not be considered prior to improvements in rolling stock and services.”
