Train exhibit delayed ... as it’s still in use!

BOSSES at the National Railway Museum had hoped to be showing off their latest exhibit by now – a Pacer diesel model built in the 1980s.

However, the train’s arrival has now been delayed (of course!) as 100 of the converted buses are still being widely used across northern England.

Rail operator Northern was meant to start phasing them out at the end of last year, replacing them with more spacious, air conditioned Spanish-built trains.

This would have freed up one of the Pacers to take pride of place at the museum in York. But plans have been scuppered by delayed engineering works – particularly electrification of the Manchester to Preston route. This means 100 of the cramped, noisy British Rail Pacer 142 trains – top speed 75mph – are still being used.

British Rail came up with the idea of Pacers to save money. Built by mounting the bodies of old British Leyland buses onto train wheels, they cost a third of the price of a new train. However, many passengers complain they are slow, noisy and have poor suspension.

They were initially meant to be scrapped in 2007. Northern, a subsidiary of Arriva, does not own the Pacers but leases them from Angel Trains. Arriva said it is still on track to retire all Pacers and replace them with its new £500million fleet by the end of the year.

A spokesman for the rail museum in York said: ‘We would like the Pacer to come here. It is worthy of a place.’