The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) confirmed today that a thousand new carriages have been introduced onto the Southern Region commuter networks. This follows the introduction of a further 49 new Electrostar and Desiro carriages by Southern, South West Trains and South Eastern Trains during the past week. Network Rail has now completed the 'super-critical' sites for the power supply upgrade and this means power supply is no longer holding back the introduction of new carriages into service. This massive £2.75 billion investment programme is on budget and well on the way towards completion by the middle of next year.
The new stock has been introduced as follows: -
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Southern - 742 new carriages ordered -344 now in service
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South West Trains - 665 new carriages ordered - 348 now in service
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South Eastern Trains - 618 new carriages ordered - 346 now in service
SRA Chairman Richard Bowker said:
"Very real progress is being made on this vital project. With new carriages coming into service on a weekly basis, momentum is being sustained and whilst there is still much work ahead, I am confident that passengers in the southern region will experience a huge improvement in their daily journeys in the coming months."
Chief Executive of Network Rail, John Armitt said:
"This is a major landmark in a project that will bring significant improvements to the travelling public. But now is not the time for complacency and everybody involved must remain focused to ensure the progress made to date continues."
Managing Director of Southern, Charles Horton said:
"This is an important milestone for the new trains programme across the Southern region. The feedback from many of our passengers on the new trains is extremely positive. We are confident that we will deliver the remainder of the new trains over the coming year and ultimately provide a better journey for all of our passengers."
Andrew Haines, Managing Director of South West Trains said:
"We are getting really good feedback from our passengers about the comfort levels and facilities of the new Desiro trains which are replacing slam doors across our network."
South Eastern Trains Managing Director Michael Holden said:
"I'm extremely encouraged by the positive feedback from our passengers about the new trains. Introducing them is the biggest challenge facing us but it's also the biggest opportunity we've got to really improve the experience of rail travel in Kent."
Notes to Editors
1. The New Trains Programme comprises: Around £2 billion investment in over 2000 new train carriages Up to £750 million investment being made in rail infrastructure upgrade power supply, provide new and improved depots, and extend platforms
2. As of the week ending 6 August 2004, 1038 new carriages were in operation on the network.
3. In January 2002, Richard Bowker announced that the SRA was taking the lead in structuring a programme to tackle the new trains programme and the associated power supply upgrade.
4. The industry partners working together with the Strategic Rail Authority to complete this plan include Network Rail, South West Trains, Southern, and South Eastern Trains.
5. The 1999 Railway Safety Regulations require all Mark 1 'slam door trains' to be off the network by 31 December 2004. The three train operating companies and Network Rail made a joint submission to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that seeks an exemption from this deadline.
6. The HSE has announced that it is minded to grant an exemption allowing the three TOCs to run the trains no later than the end of November 2005, dependent on a number of conditions. It is now consulting on their proposals and a final decision is expected in the autumn.
7. If an exemption is granted then approximately 500 Mark 1s will remain in service after the deadline. It is expected all will be removed by August 2005.
For further details contact the SRA Press Office: 020 7654 6000
