2007-09-27 East Midlands Trains top team announced (Stagecoach Group)

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date 8 February 2001
source Stagecoach Group
type Press release

£3.5 billion investment to raise South West Trains' capacity by 67 per cent.

o Stagecoach Group announces partnership with Siemens and Angel Trains.
o £1.5 billion immediate investment in new, better and longer trains.
o More seats on more trains more quickly than anyone else.
o A step change in service, quality and comfort.
o Value for money for the passenger and the taxpayer.

Stagecoach Group today announces its intention to transform Britain's biggest commuter railway into the best commuter network in Europe, providing passengers with unprecedented levels of comfort, security and service.

As the operator of South West Trains for the last four years, we have acquired an in-depth and unrivalled understanding of the considerable complexities and constraints involved in running the network of almost 1700 trains a day. This places us in the strongest position to put it right - and put it right quickly. Speed is important, because every day our passengers are travelling in overcrowded conditions which need both focused plans and targeted investment to put right.

We can, and will, deliver more seats on more trains more quickly than anyone else. No-one else can deliver more quickly.

As the UK's leading commuter rail experts, we have developed a plan for South West Trains that is deliverable, will create the minimum disruption for our passengers and is the best solution for the taxpayer.

In partnership with Siemens and Angel Trains, we have arranged financing and identified new trains for London's biggest ever train order:

- £1.5 billion of investment in new trains for delivery from 2002, guaranteeing the removal of all slam-door trains by 2004, and bringing new trains to the main lines.

We will provide the extra capacity our passengers so urgently need in incremental steps. We have found ways of implementing our considerable programme of improvements without creating years of chaos and confusion, enabling us to provide much needed relief whilst we transform the network.

The principal elements of our £3.5 billion innovative scheme include:

o New trains - £1.5 billion on new Siemens trains, similar to those on the highly successful Heathrow Express service, guaranteeing the replacement of all the Mark 1 rolling stock by the end of 2004. Financing by Angel Trains is already in place. An additional £137 million will also be spent on the refurbishment of existing rolling stock.
o Metro and MainLine services - create a high frequency "turn up and go" Metro service in the inner suburban area, and a MainLine service, with InterCity customer service standards but commuter service frequencies on the main lines.
o Greater capacity - create around 70,000 extra peak seats per day to meet the anticipated demand. Introduction of 10 car trains for suburban and up to 15 car trains for other suburban and MainLine routes, which will be the longest domestic trains in Britain.
o Infrastructure and reliability- £1.3 billion on infrastructure capacity enhancement schemes that will involve:
o the substantial redevelopment of the network's busiest terminus and transfer stations, namely Waterloo, Clapham Junction and Vauxhall
o SWT will "gold plate" the track between Waterloo and Surbiton to the highest possible technical standards, guaranteeing reliability on this key section of track.
o Stations - invest £359 million on the network's stations to provide the highest standards of comfort and security for our passengers, including the development of three new stations. Provide passenger lounges, storage for bikes and an additional 8000 new car parking spaces.
o Customer care - we will deliver the very best standards of customer care. Centre Stage, our best in class customer service campaign puts our customers at the heart of our business. We will provide them with a real voice including a passenger representative on the board of South West Trains. The thirst for information will be met through state of the art real time electronic information systems on every station and every train.
o Security - all of our trains, stations and car parks will be covered by CCTV; enhanced station staffing and a unique partnership with the police will ensure a major improvement in security.
o Integrated transport - we will make the railway accessible to many thousands more people with a package that includes £78 million on disabled access.

Our experience and detailed understanding of the South West Trains business has enabled us to develop this plan that will result in phased improvement across the network without wholesale disruption.

With our bid passengers will see an immediate benefit with the rapid introduction of new trains and other significant network improvements.

Our phased approach allows a constant reappraisal of future capacity and the ability to introduce double deck trains or tunnels, if rising passenger demand requires their introduction.

Commenting on the proposals for South West Trains, Keith Cochrane, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, said:

"We are excited by the opportunity to transform Britain's busiest railway. The experience that we have gained over the last four years gives us a unique perspective on the needs of our passengers and the considerable constraints and complexities of the network."

"Our solution is to provide more seats on more trains more quickly than anyone else and to implement a far reaching programme of improvements that will result in passengers enjoying unprecedented levels of comfort, security and service."

Railhub Archive ::: 2001-02-08 STG-001