Regional trains getting older and will not be replaced before 2008 - Rowen

12.00.00am GMT Mon 30th Jan 2006

Parliamentary Questions obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that 13 of the current rail franchises have no plans to upgrade train rolling stock.

British railway travellers already pay some of the highest fares in Europe and are travelling on trains that are an average of nearly thirteen years old. What is more there are no plans to introduce any new rolling stock in 2006 or 2007.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesman, Paul Rowen MP said "These franchises are predominantly outside London and the South East, and cover some of the busiest commuter lines in the country. For example on the Northern franchise the average age of rolling stock is 17.1 years already, and the Great Northern fleet averages 19.9 years.

"It appears that with the exception of fast intercity routes and lines emanating around London and the South East, the Department for Transport has abandoned rail commuters. They face years of misery as rail stock becomes increasingly unreliable and overcrowded.

"Labour's much heralded 'age of the train' has come to an shuddering halt."