In his Autumn Statement, Chancellor George Osborne promises to replace outdated pacers with new and modern trains.
The Chancellor said:
“And I can confirm today that we will tender for new franchises for Northern Rail and the Trans-Pennine Express – replacing the ancient and unpopular pacer carriages with new and modern trains.”
The published Autumn Statement says:
1.192 The government will deliver, through the new franchises and the £1 billion infrastructure investment already underway, new trains, faster journeys, more seats and more services. Invitations to tender for the next Northern and Trans-Pennine Express rail franchises will be published shortly. The new franchises, subject to business case development, will: deliver at least a 20% increase in capacity to reduce overcrowding; include new Rolling Stock fit for the 21st century; encourage bidders to replace the outdated pacer trains with modern, better quality trains; bring all the trains that remain up to modern standards; provide additional services across the network; provide faster services on some of the busiest routes; and deliver substantial upgrades of station facilities across the network.
And
2.203 Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises – The government will publish the Invitations to Tender for the Northern and TransPennine rail franchises in early 2015, and will specify a substantial package of upgrades including new services and modern trains in order to phase out the outdated Pacer trains.
To read the full statement click the link here.