“We expect the competition for the next East Midlands long-term franchise to deliver those improvements to the rolling stock that are required.”
That was the response from Transport Minister Claire Perry on November 4 to a Commons Written Question asking what plans the Secretary of State for Transport has for replacement of HST trains on the Midland Main Line.
Perry had told Philip Hollobone (Conservative, Kettering): “The Department considers that franchisees are normally best placed to procure the rolling stock that they require to deliver the necessary levels of service and capacity.”
Under the Department for Transport’s present plan, published in July 2015, the East Midlands Trains franchise is due to end after the current Direct Award extension on March 4 2018, although the Transport Secretary can extend this by up to a year.
Alan Taylor - 18/11/2015 22:32
It would be great if we could have a British designed and built replacement for the HST when the time comes. A train that builds on the engineering excellence that embodies the future proofed HST design and takes its excellent qualities and makes them better, such as no engines under the carriages making them quiet to ride on and hear the station announcements, room for luggage in the vestibules so you don't have to struggle with them in the passenger areas, roomy luggage racks that actually fit the bags people carry, quiet pneumatic doors that automatically open without you having to press a button and then have the door close on you....to name but a few. The HST is a far better train than the Voyager derivatives. 40 years and still going strong. Still doing 125 mph. As a nation we should celebrate these amazing trains and the British engineers who designed and developed them. They are outstanding!