Call for new fleet of local trains Midlands ‘missing out’ while other regions promised new rolling stock
THE deal offered for Birmingham’s hard-pressed rail commuters is not enough as it fails to include a new fleet of modern trains, claims Labour’s candidate for West Midlands elected mayor.
The criticism came after the newly-formed West Midlands Rail (WMR) group, made up of 14 district and county councils, issued its tender document to two rival firms hoping to secure the contract to run local services currently operated by London Midland after October 2017.
But while the tender called for more frequent services, smart tickets, station upgrades and free wi-fi for all passengers, it did not demand a new fleet of trains and carriages.
This was in contrast to deals struck in other parts of the country, including the Abellio East Anglia franchise which was announced with a £1 billion investment in 660 new trains and carriages from Bombardier in Derby, plus a further 383 Stadler carriages.
There has also been Government investment in locomotives and carriages by First Group’s Transpenine and Great Western lines, Abellio’s ScotRail and the Arriva’s Northern rail franchise where 281 carriages have been ordered. In all cases the newer trains can carry more passengers.
But the rivals bidding for the WMR franchise, Govia and Abellio, have not been asked to deliver new trains in the detailed tender document issued this week.
Labour candidate for West Midlands mayor, Siôn Simon, said the region should demand a better deal, including new rolling stock, both from the Department for Transport and the train operators.
He said: “The West Midlands rail franchise is out to tender. With the right level of political leadership, we can secure for the passengers of our region the train services that we deserve – run on time and at times that suit the commuter, and with comfortable, modern, connected carriages. Getting around on our public transport system shouldn’t be the expensive struggle that it is. .
“Other regions in the have secured great deals passengers.”
The deadline for bids is November 29, with the winner due to be announced in summer 2017. The mayoral election is in May 2017.
West Midlands Rail said that while there was no explicit deal for new trains, to meet the demands for extra services and capacity – including delivering 30,000 more passengers a day to and from Birmingham – the new operator would need to provide extra rolling stock.
Although these may not necessarily be new trains, the equivalent of 137 extra ‘vehicles’ will be needed by December 2022.
A spokesman said: “In the West Midlands the bulk of the extra capacity will come from extra rolling stock, allowing longer trains. For example on the Cross City line the current three car trains can be replaced by six car trains, on the Coventry line eight car trains can be run as opposed to the current four, and on the Snow Hill line three or four car services will be able to run five or six cars.” country for their