Strategy calls for a more coherent approach to rolling stock construction

The next 10 years will see a quarter of the UK’s rolling stock become due for replacement according to Network Rail’s new route utilisation strategy for passenger rolling stock.

It calls for a more coherent approach from the rail industry for the procurement of future rolling stock, something that could dramatically reduce the cost of train construction.

Currently the 12,000 passenger vehicles that make up the existing UK fleet comprise of 64 different classes. Reducing the number of different designs and ending a stop-start approach to train building could see production costs reduced by as much as 20%. An average rail vehicle costs £1.1m to produce, a substantial amount of this is due to the non-recuring costs that manufacturing bespoke rolling stock attracts.

The report identifies 3 key types of rolling stock – Interurban, inner suburban and high speed long distance trains. It recommends that these form the basis of future orders, a move that would probably see an increase of the number of vehicles built per class in the future.

Train crew have told RailStaff that having large numbers of different rolling stock with couplers that are not compatible makes things difficult should a train fail and need to be rescued by another train. It’s relatively easy if the nearest train has the same coupler, but if it hasn’t there can be considerable delay caused by having to fit and use the emergency coupler or waiting for a compatible unit or locomotive.

Paul Plummer, Network Rail director of planning and development, said: “Simplicity and inter-operability must be the key to value for money in train procurement.”

If the option of life extension, which typically gives a vehicle another 5 years of active service, was taken up that would mean that just 12% of existing rolling stock would need replacing over the next decade.

An old Southern region EMU is scrapped in 2004. In the years leading up to privatisation the majority of rolling stock was compatible with each other. Picture: Jonathan Webb.