SWR long-awaited £1billion fleet of trains to ease overcrowding ‘stuck in limbo’

A long-awaited fleet of trains meant to ease overcrowding on services remains “stuck in limbo” due to a shortage of drivers, a rail firm has admitted.

South Western Railway (SWR) ordered 90 Arterio trains – at the cost of £1billion – in 2017, set to enter service in 2019.

The 10-carriage walk-through trains are meant to replace the current eight-carriage “red trains” that are too small for commuter demand into London Waterloo.

But only five of the 90 trains are currently in use, with many parked up in depots including Clapham Junction.

Despite being ready for service, the trains cannot be deployed until SWR completes driver training, a spokesman for the firm confirmed on Monday. The spokesman was unable to give a date when they will finally be operational.

A spokesman for SWR said: “We are sorry that the Arterio rollout is taking longer than previously expected. 

“We are continuing to work with all our stakeholders as we seek to speed up the training programme and to deliver the customer benefits of the new Arterio trains as quickly as possible.”

This comes after rail fares rose by 4.6 per cent earlier this month, with an annual season ticket from Putney to London Zones 1-6 now costing £3,264.

Wandsworth Liberal Democrat Joshua Hughes said: “It’s astonishing that these brand-new trains are sitting in a depot while commuters are left crammed onto outdated, overcrowded carriages. 

“After years of delays, passengers deserve answers – not more excuses. And to add insult to injury, they’ve just been hit with another rail fare increase while being denied the service improvements they were promised.”

Pictured top: South Western Railway (SWR) ordered 90 Arterio trains – at the cost of £1billion – in 2017 (Picture: G.P.Essex / Alamy Stock Photo)