The chief executive of Network Rail has admitted there is still no timeframe for an increase in capacity on trains across Sussex.

John Armitt was giving evidence yesterday to the House of Commons transport select committee which is investigating how plans to upgrade the rail network in the South-East have failed to deliver.

Despite millions of pounds of investment in new rolling stock, many trains have had to be mothballed because the power supply could not cope with the additional drain of automatic doors and air- conditioning.

They are now being brought into operation but with a lower power supply which means they cannot accelerate as they are designed to.

The heads of Southern, South Eastern and South West Trains said they had ordered the rolling stock before infrastructure improvements were in place in order to meet health and safety guidelines.

These included the removal of carriages with slam-doors, to be replaced by sliding doors, and traction requirements.

The train operating companies told the committee they were now introducing the new rolling stock but the constraints imposed by the power supply mean capacity had not been improved.

Mr Armitt said: "Increases in the capacity in the South-East can only go forward when there is the funding for the infrastructure improvements."

Thursday July 08, 2004