Double-deck trains won't return to UK
Posted: 29 Jun 2012, 12:38
Double-deck trains won't return to UK
Friday, June 29, 2012 South Wales Evening Post
DOUBLE-DECKER trains will not return to Britain's railways, the Government has said.
Transport Minister Theresa Villiers ruled out the carriages for UK tracks because it would cost too much to change lines, stations and bridges.
She told MPs: "The shape of the UK rail network, the size of the bridges, the distance between rail tracks and the distance between tracks and platform mean that we can't run the sort of large double-decker trains that work in Europe.
"There are much more cost-effective ways to expand capacity with longer trains and more frequent services, which is what the Government is doing."
Network Rail last investigated whether such carriages could again work in Britain in 2007, but found bridges, tracks and stations would need "extensive modification", meaning it was too expensive.
But speaking at transport questions, Tory MP Philip Hollobone claimed the move could solve overcrowding on Britain's railways.
Friday, June 29, 2012 South Wales Evening Post
DOUBLE-DECKER trains will not return to Britain's railways, the Government has said.
Transport Minister Theresa Villiers ruled out the carriages for UK tracks because it would cost too much to change lines, stations and bridges.
She told MPs: "The shape of the UK rail network, the size of the bridges, the distance between rail tracks and the distance between tracks and platform mean that we can't run the sort of large double-decker trains that work in Europe.
"There are much more cost-effective ways to expand capacity with longer trains and more frequent services, which is what the Government is doing."
Network Rail last investigated whether such carriages could again work in Britain in 2007, but found bridges, tracks and stations would need "extensive modification", meaning it was too expensive.
But speaking at transport questions, Tory MP Philip Hollobone claimed the move could solve overcrowding on Britain's railways.