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Railways to get £8bn investment Railways to get £8bn investment
(40 minutes later)
By Richard Scott Transport correspondent, BBC NewsBy Richard Scott Transport correspondent, BBC News
Plans for £8bn of investment in Britain's railways have been announced by the government.Plans for £8bn of investment in Britain's railways have been announced by the government.
It is buying about 2,000 new carriages to tackle overcrowding, electrifying some lines and pressing ahead with the Thameslink programme.It is buying about 2,000 new carriages to tackle overcrowding, electrifying some lines and pressing ahead with the Thameslink programme.
But plans to modernise the London-Swansea line are still on hold and it will be the end of the decade before the investment is complete.But plans to modernise the London-Swansea line are still on hold and it will be the end of the decade before the investment is complete.
Passengers also face rises in ticket prices to help pay for the investments.Passengers also face rises in ticket prices to help pay for the investments.
Details of the plans include:
  • delivering 2,100 new rail carriages by May 2019, increasing capacity by 17%, creating space for an extra 185,000 passengers
  • 650 of these carriages will be delivered by 2014; the previous Labour government had promised 1,300
  • up to 1,200 carriages for the Thameslink programme (Bedford to Brighton through London) although the programme will be completed two years later than planned
  • 600 carriages for the Crossrail project (east to west through London)
  • electrification of commuter services on the Great Western route between London and Didcot, Oxford and Newbury over the next six years
  • electrification of the lines between Liverpool, Manchester, Preston and Blackpool
  • but electrification of the London-Swansea line has been delayed.
'Smoke and mirrors'
Patrick Butcher, finance director at Network Rail, which owns all of Britain's rail infrastructure, was pleased with the announcement.Patrick Butcher, finance director at Network Rail, which owns all of Britain's rail infrastructure, was pleased with the announcement.
"We welcome the fact that the government recognises that the railway plays an important role in driving economic growth and this investment proves that," he said, after Network Rail announced half-yearly profits of £299m - more than double the amount it made in the same period last year."We welcome the fact that the government recognises that the railway plays an important role in driving economic growth and this investment proves that," he said, after Network Rail announced half-yearly profits of £299m - more than double the amount it made in the same period last year.
But Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT union, called the plans "classic political smoke and mirrors".But Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT union, called the plans "classic political smoke and mirrors".
"The reality is that the inflation-busting fare increases kick in within weeks while the infrastructure and upgrade works we need to drag the UK's railways out of the slow lane are light years away," he said."The reality is that the inflation-busting fare increases kick in within weeks while the infrastructure and upgrade works we need to drag the UK's railways out of the slow lane are light years away," he said.
In Northern Ireland, transport is a devolved matter with the Department for Regional Development responsible for investment in rail infrastructure.In Northern Ireland, transport is a devolved matter with the Department for Regional Development responsible for investment in rail infrastructure.
New carriagesNew carriages
The government had put many rail investment schemes on hold while it decided which it could afford in the face of budget cuts. Now we know that more than 2,000 new carriages are being bought, with 1,850 of them being used to provide extra capacity.The government had put many rail investment schemes on hold while it decided which it could afford in the face of budget cuts. Now we know that more than 2,000 new carriages are being bought, with 1,850 of them being used to provide extra capacity.
Those carriages will not arrive instantly though - they won't finish coming into service until 2019.Those carriages will not arrive instantly though - they won't finish coming into service until 2019.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond admitted that it was a "rolling programme" but said passengers would start to see the benefits "within the next few months".Transport Secretary Philip Hammond admitted that it was a "rolling programme" but said passengers would start to see the benefits "within the next few months".
Some 600 of the new carriages are for Crossrail (the new line being built east-west across London), up to 1,200 for Thameslink (the north-south link across London) and 650 will be given to different franchises around the country.Some 600 of the new carriages are for Crossrail (the new line being built east-west across London), up to 1,200 for Thameslink (the north-south link across London) and 650 will be given to different franchises around the country.
Those 650 carriages will be used to serve commuters travelling into the big cities.Those 650 carriages will be used to serve commuters travelling into the big cities.
But the government cannot say precisely which franchises will get what.But the government cannot say precisely which franchises will get what.
Although the new carriages will be given to the franchises, and represent good news for passengers - the train companies will want extra money from the government to run them.Although the new carriages will be given to the franchises, and represent good news for passengers - the train companies will want extra money from the government to run them.
So ministers will now negotiate with franchises to get the best deal they can - and that will determine in part where the carriages go.So ministers will now negotiate with franchises to get the best deal they can - and that will determine in part where the carriages go.
Those carriages will increase capacity on the network by 17%, enabling an extra 185,000 passengers to be carried at any one time.Those carriages will increase capacity on the network by 17%, enabling an extra 185,000 passengers to be carried at any one time.
Thameslink green lightThameslink green light
The Thameslink project is also going to go ahead in full. This will eventually double capacity on the route from Brighton to Bedford, allowing up to 24 trains an hour.The Thameslink project is also going to go ahead in full. This will eventually double capacity on the route from Brighton to Bedford, allowing up to 24 trains an hour.
Work on the scheme is already underway, but there had been question marks over whether the rest of the stages would go ahead.Work on the scheme is already underway, but there had been question marks over whether the rest of the stages would go ahead.
It won't be completed though until 2018 - two years later than planned. That delay means the engineering work is easier, and cuts costs.It won't be completed though until 2018 - two years later than planned. That delay means the engineering work is easier, and cuts costs.
There is also news that lines in the north west - from Manchester to Liverpool and Manchester to Blackpool - are going to be electrified.There is also news that lines in the north west - from Manchester to Liverpool and Manchester to Blackpool - are going to be electrified.
Electric trains have an operating cost roughly half that of their diesel equivalents. They are also more reliable and can fit more passengers on board.Electric trains have an operating cost roughly half that of their diesel equivalents. They are also more reliable and can fit more passengers on board.
Fare risesFare rises
But the long-awaited electrification of the London to Swansea Great Western route still isn't happening.But the long-awaited electrification of the London to Swansea Great Western route still isn't happening.
The government is deciding whether to replace the intercity fleet with electric trains, or electric-diesel hybrids. Whatever it decides will determine what happens to the electrification of the route into South Wales.The government is deciding whether to replace the intercity fleet with electric trains, or electric-diesel hybrids. Whatever it decides will determine what happens to the electrification of the route into South Wales.
Passengers face an average fare rise of 6.2% in the new year, with some commuters seeing their tickets go up by as much as 12.8%.Passengers face an average fare rise of 6.2% in the new year, with some commuters seeing their tickets go up by as much as 12.8%.
The government says these fare rises are necessary to safeguard the investment that has just been announced.The government says these fare rises are necessary to safeguard the investment that has just been announced.
Rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus said passengers would welcome the investment plans.Rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus said passengers would welcome the investment plans.
"This is just what rail passengers want to see - long-term, sustained investment. It also gives passengers a clue where some of their fare rise money will be going," the watchdog's chief executive Anthony Smith said."This is just what rail passengers want to see - long-term, sustained investment. It also gives passengers a clue where some of their fare rise money will be going," the watchdog's chief executive Anthony Smith said.
But he added the industry would have to continue to work hard to deliver "a value for money service".But he added the industry would have to continue to work hard to deliver "a value for money service".