Intercity Express Programme

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the German high-speed train, see InterCityExpress.

Many of Britain’s intercity trains are approaching thirty years old.

The Intercity Express Programme is an initiative of the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport (DfT) to procure a fleet of next-generation long-distance trains to replace the InterCity 125 and InterCity 225 fleets. The programme is an expanded version of the previous ‘HST2’ scheme.

1 Rationale
2 Plans
3 Timeline
4 External links
5 References

[edit] Rationale

The DfT states that their involvement in a future fleet specification and acquisition is necessary for several reasons. Though Britain’s rail operators are privatised, their franchises seldom last for more than 12 years; a train, on the other hand, may remain in service for more than 30 years. It is therefore entirely unprofitable for the franchise operator to replace the fleet, leaving the only other option to hire newly acquired trains from third parties, which can prove extremely expensive. The DfT also states that it can, and has, brought train operators together with a ‘whole system, whole life’ perspective to decide on a specification that will be more flexible with regards to future routes and fleet transfers as well as more environmentally aware.

The DfT expects that over the course of its life the programme will prove less expensive than the recent smaller-scale introductions of the Pendolino and Adelante trains. The aim of the programme is to introduce between 500 and 2000 carriages over the course of a 30-year programme with either one supplier or a consortium.

[edit] Plans

Under current plans, the trains will be available in electric, ‘self-powered’ (e.g. diesel) and dual-mode versions.^[1] According to the DfT’s specifications, it is ‘essential’ that the trains be capable of speeds of at least 125 mph, and ‘desirable’ that they be capable of higher speeds when under electric power, in order to allow for future line upgrades.^[2]

As part of their franchise commitments, National Express East Coast are to introduce the first ‘pre-series’ trains from the Intercity Express Programme on the East Coast Main Line in 2012.^[3]

On 16 November 2007 the Department for Transport issued its Invitation to Tender for the Intercity Express programme to three consortiums which have been short-listed to bid for the project:^[4]

Alstom-Barclays Rail Group
Express Rail Alliance (a consortium between train-builders Bombardier and Siemens with financial support from Angel Trains and Babcock & Brown)
Hitachi Europe

In late 2007, Network Rail suggested that the DfT should abandon the diesel version of the Intercity Express for cost reasons; they argue that because of new emissions regulations and the minimal demand for diesel-powered high-speed trains abroad, it would be cheaper to electrify the remaining lines than to buy new diesel trains.^[5]

On 12 February 2008, it was announced that Alstom had withdrawn from the bidding process, preferring to focus on needs that can be met with existing technology.^[6]