DfT spins a line on new carriages for Leeds

Whilst governments change the misinformation generated by their officials continues.

This from the Hammond Organs...

Leeds commuters are to benefit from more than 2,000 extra seats each day after Transport Secretary Philip Hammond announced today that twenty additional rail carriages are to be deployed on routes serving the city.

The extra carriages will be used to run more trains at busy times – on the lines from Skipton, Ilkley and Doncaster via Wakefield into Leeds – and to lengthen other existing services operated by Northern Rail.

They form part of the 650 additional carriages the Government will introduce onto the UK’s rail network by 2014.

Part of the 650 additional carriages eh?

So presumably these aren't the twenty year old 322s currently in Scotland and previously on National Express East Anglia?

Good old DafT - never letting the facts get in the way of a good story.

UPDATE: This from The Archer...

In the same release Hammond said:

“Even at a time of severe pressure on public spending we cannot afford not to invest in Britain’s future – and that’s why we are investing more than £10m in providing these extra carriages for Yorkshire commuters. These extra trains will ease crowding and provide passengers with more comfortable journeys.

“The tough decisions the Government has taken on rail fares allow us to continue to deliver this sort of much needed improvement to the railways. We are investing in 2,100 extra carriages to increase capacity across the rail network and in the longer term we have plans for a high speed rail network which will ease overcrowding and make our railways fit for the 21st century.”

It must be comforting for regional railway passengers to know that if they were to be beneficiaries of a High Speed Line they would be 'overcrowded', but as they only travel on local lines they are merely 'crowded'.

Perhaps Petrol-head can explain what metric he uses to draw this interesting and novel distinction?

UPDATE: This from Our Man by the Photocopier...

I may be able to explain how moving five 21-year old Class 322s from the North Berwick line to bring a moderate amount of joy to the lucky people of West Yorkshire has cost £10 million -- that's £500,000 a vehicle.

This Friday afternoon press release from Messrs Sue, Grabbit and Run makes it all so much clearer ...

International law firm Eversheds has advised the Department for Transport on a £10m investment to provide 20 additional rail carriages on commuter trains in Leeds.

From December 2011, commuters in the Leeds area will benefit from more than 2,000 extra seats each day as more trains will run at peak times, improving the service in the region. This project forms part of the 650 additional carriages the Government will introduce on to the UK’s rail network by 2014.

The extra carriages will allow a total of six additional trains per day (three in the morning peak and three in the evening peak) operating on the Leeds - Skipton, Leeds - Ilkley and Leeds – Doncaster routes. In addition, three morning peak trains will be lengthened on the Leeds - Manchester Victoria and Bradford Forster Square - Leeds routes.

The Eversheds team advising the Department for Transport was led by Partner Peter McCormack.

Peter McCormack said:

“This investment in transport in Leeds and surrounding area will improve the services that commuters use on a daily basis. Rail services are an important part of the growth of British economy and we are pleased to continue to assist the Department for Transport with its plans to increase capacity across the rail network.”

Trebles all round, m'lud!

601 days since the last new train order

This from Captain Deltic...

So busy proof reading Rail Business Intelligence that I overlooked that yesterday was the 600th day without a new train order. (Eye doesn't normally allow such blatant plugs, but just this once. Ed)

But luckily I remembered just now as I was assembling the trophies for this Friday's Golden Spanner Awa... (Oi! I've warned you Deltic, you're barred! Ed)

UPDATE: This from Ithuriel...

Is it not odd that those local representatives pressing for more capacity haven't latched onto the good Captain's latest ticking time bomb and used it to their own ends?

UPDATE: This from Steve Strong...

Perhaps tomorrow's announcement by the Secretary of State will address this problem?

Oh no, now I remember.

Mr Hammond is due to announce the wrong train that nobody actually wants.

Apart that is from Mr Kipling, obviously.

UPDATE: This from Captain Deltic...

But any order won't count until the contract has been signed, not to mention the protests from other manufacturers being heard in court.

So, no change tomorrow, I suspect.

Election clock ticking for 1,300 new vehicles

Telegrammed by our man at 222 Marylebone Road
Finger out Adonis!

Only 19 days in which to place orders for the outstanding 757 additional vehicles in the High Level Output Specification.

Your elected colleagues with constituencies in and around Derby expect you to hand a cheque over to Colin Walton soonest.

UPDATE: This from Leo Pink...

And since the delay to the Thameslink new trains order has deferred 200 of the vehicles in the HLOS 1300 to Control Period 5, why not ask Uncle Colin to make up the number with some Turbostars and revive the Diesel Multiple Unit Project.

No doubt Porterbrook would like to further boost their local MP's chances by providing the funding for these DMUs.

Such gratitude would be in order since we all remember how the Derby MPs stood up for brave little Porterbrook as it defied the jack-booted hordes of DfT Rail. (Errr... is this right? Ed.)