New rolling stock to further cut average age of UK fleet
THE increase in the average age of UK rolling stock has slowed over the past 12 months to just 0.1 years (to 21.1 years), as a result of new trains being introduced onto the rail network.
And with more than £10 billion of new trains on order to replace older fleets, it is expected that the average age of UK rolling stock will fall from today’s 21.1 years to just 15 years by March 2021.
Office of Rail and Road statistics reveal that Caledonian Sleeper has the oldest average fleet (42.38 years), followed by Merseyrail (38.25) and TfL Rail (37.25).
All three operators are in the process of replacing their entire fleets, with CS taking delivery of Mk 5s from next year, Merseyrail replacing all its Class 507/508 electric multiple units with Stadler Class 777s from 2019-20, and TfL Rail already taking delivery of Class 345 EMUs.
The youngest fleet is operated by TransPennine Express (9.18 years), although this has Mk 5s, Class 397 EMUs and Class 802 bi-modes on order, with 21 Class 185 and ten Class 350/4s being sent off-lease. Next come Virgin West Coast (12.39) and London Midland (13.08).
Long distance is the sector with the oldest trains, at an average of 26.1 years (up 0.9 years on the last year). This is due to little change in the rolling stock over the past 12 months, although the figure will drop in the coming months as High Speed Trains are retired and more Intercity Express Programme Class 800s are introduced onto the network.
The Regional fleets are now 24.3 years, up 0.6 years on last year. ORR said there seemed to be a rollout of newer stock, citing changes to fleets with Northern, ScotRail and TransPennine Express.
London and the South East has the youngest fleet (18.4 years, down 0.5 years on last year). This is due to the introduction of new trains by c2c and Govia Thameslink Railway.
The average age of rolling stock increased at Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern Railways and London Midland.
Overall, between 2005-06 and 2016-17 the average age of UK rolling stock rose by 60% (eight years), which ORR said was to be expected following the replacement of older British Rail fleets.
The average age is shown as at the end of 2016-17, and includes passenger vehicles leased to franchised train operating companies by rolling stock leasing companies (ROSCOs) and other financiers, but excludes vehicles such as locomotives and Driving Van Trailers.
Changes in rolling stock average age are recorded against the same time period the year before. A vehicle drops out of the dataset if it is no longer leased by a franchised train operator.