Mixed news for rail passengers

Passengers facing huge hikes in train fares in the new year received mixed news in a major rail announcement from the Government.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said there would be 2,100 new rail carriages on the network by May 2019.

But only 650 of them will be delivered by 2014 - far fewer than the 1,300 promised by the Labour government.

Mr Hammond also said that electrification of commuter services on the Great Western route between London and Didcot, Oxford and Newbury would go ahead.

But he put back until the new year a decision on whether the rest of the Great Western line to south west England and Wales would go ahead.

And Mr Hammond also deferred a decision until the new year on the replacement of ageing Intercity 125 trains.

Mr Hammond did commit the Government to funding "in its entirety" the north-south cross-London Thameslink scheme.

But he said it would finish in 2018 - two years later than planned - due to re-organisation of work at London Bridge station.