1,000 more rail carriages on the way – and trains will tell you where they are

AROUND 1,000 extra carriages will be introduced on our railways next year, according to an industry body.

The Rail Delivery Group said new and refurbished stock was being deployed by nine operators, including Northern, increasing the nation’s fleet from 14,800 carriages to 15,800 by the end of 2020.

The announcement came one day before several firms will miss a deadline to make all train journeys easier for disabled passengers.

Earlier this month Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said 1,200 carriages would not meet new accessibility standards coming into force on January 1.

The Rail Delivery Group said new trains being introduced in 2020 would utilise modern technology to improve journey planning and accessibility.

Among the operators introducing new and refurbished carriages are Greater Anglia, London North Eastern Railway, South Western Railway and West Midlands Trains.

GPS technology will provide waiting passengers with more accurate information about where their train is, reducing occasions where a service described as being on time is actually delayed.

The location of some older trains is only known when they pass signals, which can be up to five miles apart.

The introduction of new carriages means more trains will feature clearer information screens, helping passengers with learning difficulties or visual impairment, according to the rail group.

It said the majority of the 1,000 extra carriages would be new.

The return of refurbished carriages will also increase the overall fleet size as most were replaced by new trains when they were taken out of service over the past two years.

RDG chief executive Paul Plummer said: “Passengers will be able to track their train, find out where accessible toilets are and even find a seat in the emptiest carriage as 1,000 extra carriages come on track.”