The Intercity Express Programme (IEP) comprises the infrastructure, rolling stock and franchise changes needed to replace services operated by Britain's aging fleet of high speed trains with faster, higher capacity, more comfortable and more environmentally friendly services that will support growth on some of Britain's busiest intercity rail routes.

Latest news

• Negotiations on the Intercity Express Programme are now in their final stages with financial close targeted by summer 2012.
• The two main contractual documents with Agility Trains are now substantially complete, subject to agreement on drafting, and together with the train technical documents have now been made available to bidders for the Great Western franchise.
• Planning permissions have now been granted for all of the Great Western depots.
• The financing for IEP has both an A bank and a B bank phase. The A bank phase was oversubscribed, and the B bank phase is underway, with the final B bank approvals process due to start in May

New Trains Procurement

On 1 March 2011 the Secretary of State for Transport announced that he would be proceeding with Agility Trains’ proposal to build and maintain the new fleet of trains for use by the train operating companies.

Agility, a consortium of Hitachi Rail Europe and John Laing, plans to construct and service around 600 new rail carriages for use on the Great Western and East Coast Main Lines. Hitachi has announced its plans to build the new trains at a new facility in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

Introduction of new trains and carriages

The first units to be built under the Intercity Express Programme will be tested on the network from 2015 and introduced into revenue-earning service on the Great Western Main Line from 2016, and on the East Coast Main Line from 2018.

Once operational the trains will deliver thousands more peak time seats each day on the Great Western and East Coast Main Lines. Journey times will improve, and rail travel will be greener, more efficient and more comfortable.

Background documents

• Intercity rail travel presentation
• Intercity express and rail electrification – written ministerial statement by the Secretary of State for Transport, 1 March 2011
• Green light for new trains and rail electrification – press release, 1 March 2011
• ‘Rolling stock’ response to the Foster Review – written ministerial statement by the Secretary of State for Transport, 6 July 2010
• Review of the Intercity Express Programme by Sir Andrew Foster, 6 July 2010
• Intercity Express Programme invitation to tender, 16 November 2007
• Intercity Express Programme OJEU notice, 8 March 2007