UK govt to buy new trains to ease overcrowding, Saver fares could rise - reports |
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Wed, 14 Mar 2007 10:05
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LONDON (AFX) - The British government will today announce plans to buy about 1,000 train carriages to tackle overcrowding on the UK rail network, according to a report.Ministers are expected to say the coaches will be used to lengthen trains on the most congested parts of the railway, such as commuter routes in London and the south east, the BBC reported.The government will pay for the carriages and leasing firms such as Royal Bank of Scotland's Angel Trains, Abbey's Porterbrook and HSBC Rail will lease them to train operators at a cost of about 130 mln stg a year, the BBC said.Train manufacturers Bombardier Inc, Siemens AG, Alstom and Hitachi are all likely to be interested in building the stock.Ministers are likely to use the move to defuse criticism from passenger groups that train operators are hiking fares to reduce overcrowding.Passenger watchdogs today repeated warnings that people are being priced off the railways in response to news that the government is considering allowing train firms to raise the price of discounted Saver fares just after the morning peak and in the late afternoon, according to a report in today's Guardian.Watchdogs say Savers are crucial because they are cheaper than full fares and can be bought for use on the same day on most off-peak trains, unlike advance-booked fares, which force people to take specified services.philip.waller@thomson.compaw/tcCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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Royal Bank of Scotland's Angel Trains refuses to sign 180 mln stg train deal 