To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport by what date he expects the 1,300 additional rail carriages announced in the 2007 Rail White Paper to be in operation. (289495)

On 23 July the Government announced a major £1.1 billion programme of rail electrification. The Great Western Main Line between London and Swansea will be electrified by 2017, and the line between Liverpool and Manchester via Newton-le-Willow will be electrified by 2013.

This programme of electrification means that there will now be far less need for diesel trains and a greater requirement for electric trains. The Government will publish a new rolling stock plan this autumn, taking account of these changes circumstances and setting out a revised strategy.