Rail hopes hit the rails as pacers continue to serve

The much-maligned Pacer trains which should have been taken out of service at the end of this year, now look set to carry on running into 2020 after problems were identified with their replacements.

Spanish firm CAF were paid £500m by Northern to build 101 trains. However, a problem has emerged with the new trains coupling system, which join the carriages together – apparently they are too big! according to reports.

So it looks as though a pledge by Northerm Rail and the Department of Transport to rid local services of Pacers will not now be carried out as planned.

Northern has 102 Pacer trains and apart from one they all would fall foul of new rules being introduced next January for improved accessibility for disabled people.

The ageing Pacers were made for buses, but placed on train wheels for use on the railways.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, slammed the latest problem to beset Northern. He said: “Pacer trains are a symbol of the chronic under- investment in northern transport by successive gov- ernments. The fact that passengers will still have to travel in these museum pieces in 2020 is unacceptable.”