Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the ability of passenger train manufacturers to build diesel multiple units with motors complying with the European IIIb emission standard; and whether they have any plans to order such units to provide additional capacity on lines which are not likely to be electrified during the life of the rolling stock.

Government officials are in regular contact with train manufacturers and understand that a number of them are considering how the IIIb emission standard can be achieved on new diesel multiple units within the British loading gauge. The Hitachi IEP trains, the first of which is undergoing testing, will be fitted with IIIb compliant engines.

The Government currently has no plans to order new diesel multiple units itself, but train operators may choose to do so either in pursuit of their commercial objectives or in fulfilment of the requirements of franchise specifications.