<p><br /> Passengers facing huge hikes in train fares in the new year received mixed news in a major rail announcement from the Government.<br /> </p><p><br /> Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said there would be 2,100 new rail carriages on the network by May 2019.<br /> </p><p><br /> But only 650 of them will be delivered by 2014 - far fewer than the 1,300 promised by the Labour government.<br /> </p><p><br /> Mr Hammond also said that electrification of commuter services on the Great Western route between London and Didcot, Oxford and Newbury would go ahead.<br /> </p><p><br /> But he put back until the new year a decision on whether the rest of the Great Western line to south west England and Wales would go ahead.<br /> </p><p><br /> And Mr Hammond also deferred a decision until the new year on the replacement of ageing Intercity 125 trains.<br /> </p><p><br /> Mr Hammond did commit the Government to funding "in its entirety" the north-south cross-London Thameslink scheme.<br /> </p><p><br /> But he said it would finish in 2018 - two years later than planned - due to re-organisation of work at London Bridge station.<br /> </p>
