Government issues trains pledge

The UK government yesterday said it would push ahead with a scaled-back version of its plan to replace the country's ageing Intercity Express trains, keeping a consortium led by Japan's Hitachi as preferred bidder.

By The Newsroom

Published 2nd Mar 2011, 14:34 BST

Updated 2nd Mar 2011, 20:44 BST

There had been fears the scheme, which is designed to replace the diesel-powered trains dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, might be axed as part of a squeeze on government spending.